The government has unveiled plans to dedicate GHC1 billion from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) towards eliminating the double-track system in Senior High Schools (SHSs), a policy shift aimed at addressing one of the most pressing challenges in the country’s educational landscape.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Education and Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, during the commissioning of a new staff accommodation facility at Accra Girls’ Senior High School on Thursday, September 11, 2025.
According to Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, the funds will be captured in the 2026 national budget, reflecting the government’s resolve to bridge the infrastructural deficit that necessitated the introduction of the double-track system years ago.
“We’re committed to ending the double-track system as our contribution to improving the quality of Senior High School education. Accordingly, into the 2026 formula of the GETFund, President Mahama has directed the Finance Minister, Dr. Ato Forson, to make an allocation of GHC1 billion dedicated to managing the transition and responding to the hurdles of the transition.”
Minister of Education and Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu
The double-track system was initially introduced as a temporary measure to absorb the growing number of students who gained admission to SHS under the Free Senior High School policy but could not be accommodated due to limited infrastructure.
While the system expanded access, it has also faced criticism from parents, educators, and policy experts who argued that it compromised instructional time and overburdened both students and teachers.
A Shift from Short-Term Stopgap Measures
Hon. Haruna Iddrisu explained that the allocation signals a shift from short-term stopgap measures to a more sustainable approach to improving education delivery.
He stressed that the government is committed to ensuring that every Ghanaian child has access not only to free education but also to quality learning conditions that will adequately prepare them for the future.
“The double-track system was never intended to be permanent. Our responsibility now is to ensure that we restore normalcy to our schools by providing the infrastructure necessary to accommodate every student within the traditional school calendar. This GHC1 billion investment is a concrete step in that direction.”
Minister of Education and Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu
The Minister further noted that the Mahama administration has made education a central pillar of its reset agenda, linking the country’s economic transformation to a skilled and empowered population.
He pointed out that alongside infrastructure expansion, the government is also making significant investments in teacher training, curriculum reforms, and digital learning tools to ensure that Ghanaian students are globally competitive.
At the Accra Girls’ SHS event, the commissioning of the staff accommodation was highlighted as part of broader efforts to improve conditions for both teachers and students.
Hon. Haruna Iddrisu observed that teacher motivation and welfare are inseparable from quality outcomes in education, adding that decent housing for teachers would enhance their commitment and productivity.
A Bold Step
The announcement of the GHC1 billion GETFund allocation is a bold step towards resolving one of the most debated issues in Ghana’s education sector.
Parents and education advocates have consistently called for the phasing out of the double-track, arguing that the split system reduced contact hours for students and limited opportunities for extracurricular learning and personal development.
The Education Minister assured stakeholders that the implementation process will be transparent, efficient, and aligned with the overarching goal of ensuring equity in access.
He added that the government will work closely with the Ghana Education Service, school administrators, and local communities to ensure that the infrastructural expansion is distributed fairly across the country.
With the phase-out of the double-track system now clearly on the government’s agenda, expectations are high that the 2026 GETFund allocation will deliver tangible results.
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