The Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has outlined major interventions to be rolled out by the government, targeted at improving secondary education and eliminating the Double-Track System.
The minister recognized the importance of education as a ladder for prosperity, emphasizing the president’s vision for a secondary education that is modernized and accessible nationwide.
“Under the RESET Agenda of His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, the government is embarking on a bold and transformative initiative to upgrade, modernize, and expand access to secondary education across the country, ensuring that every Ghanaian child, regardless of background or location, can learn, grow, and succeed.”
Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister for Finance
Dr. Ato Forson explained that the quest to improve access to secondary education has not yielded the needed results so as to fit into the president’s vision for quality and access.
He stated that it was the quest for access that led to the introduction of the Free Senior High School policy, which, he emphasized, is bedeviled by many challenges.
“Mr. Speaker, the Free Secondary Education policy has led to unprecedented enrollment growth, but it has also stretched our facilities to their limits. Many schools are overcrowded, and others lack the infrastructure or resources to deliver quality education.”
Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister for Finance
The minister explained that the previous administration implemented the double-track system as a measure to accommodate the growing number of students within limited infrastructure.
However, he stated that this system has had significant drawbacks, as it disrupted the academic calendar, shortened instructional periods, and created inconsistencies in teaching and learning.
“Mr. Speaker, the government is rolling out the Ghana Secondary Learning Improvement Programme (GSLIP), a two-year national initiative (2026–2027) to end the double-track system in our secondary schools.”
Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister for Finance
He further assured that the government is committed to expanding educational infrastructure to accommodate the growing student population, ensuring that facilities are modern, safe, and conducive to learning.
Dr. Ato Forson emphasized that these initiatives will enhance the quality of teaching and curriculum delivery while improving access so that every child, regardless of background, has the opportunity to benefit from education.
Upgrading of Schools and Increased Enrolment Capacity
The Minister for Finance also highlighted one of the major issues of secondary education as the disparity in demand for category A, B, and C schools.
He noted that this has been a major challenge undermining the efforts to increase the enrollment capacity of the second circle institutions.
He further emphasized that the Ghana Secondary Learning Improvement Programme (GSLIP) would guide the improvement of some Category A schools and the upgrading of some Category B and C schools.
“Mr. Speaker, under this program, we will increase the enrollment capacity in selected Category A schools by building new classroom blocks, dormitories, and quality improvements. This will ease congestion and create space for additional students.”
The minister also stated that the government will “upgrade 10 Category B schools to Category A status, equipping them with modern classrooms, dormitories, libraries, and science and ICT laboratories.”
According to the finance minister, while Category A schools continue to receive overwhelming demand from students and parents, Category C schools, which actually account for more than half of the available spaces nationwide, remain under-enrolled.
He explained that this disparity is largely due to persistent infrastructure deficits and gaps in educational quality.
He emphasized that such inequity undermines fairness and opportunity in the educational system, stating the government’s determination to end this disparity.
“Rt. Hon. Speaker, we will accordingly upgrade another 30 Category C schools to Category B level, with new classrooms, dormitories, modern science resource centers, digital learning centers, and water and sanitation systems.”
Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister for Finance
The minister also stated that in line with the quest for secondary education improvement, “the government will complete 30 of the abandoned E-Blocks (Community Day Senior High Schools) in urban and peri-urban areas and expand access for students in high-demand regions.”
He emphasized that the program (GSLIP), will reduce Senior High School placement pressures, improve quality of secondary education and boost national performance in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination
“Every new classroom, every science lab, is a step toward a Ghana where quality education is not a privilege for the few but a birthright for every child.” The minister stated.
The finance minister stated that the government is committed to keeping its promise to continue and make the Free Secondary Education better, truly free, fair, and high-quality.
He therefore emphasized that these initiatives are not just about eliminating double-track but also about “unlocking double potential, the potential of our youth to lead, create, and transform Ghana.”
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