Member of Parliament for Offinso North, Honourable Fred Kyei Asamoah, has defended the previous NPP administration’s approach to ending the double track system, arguing that a structured transition had already begun before the party left office.
The Education Committee Member explained that the former government moved beyond the original double track arrangement and was implementing a transition process designed to gradually return second cycle institutions to more conventional operations.
Honourable Asamoah noted that the NPP administration initially introduced the double track system to prevent children from being excluded from senior high school because of inadequate infrastructure. He also pointed to several infrastructure projects undertaken in second cycle institutions, which he indicated were intended to expand capacity and support the transition.
According to the Offinso North MP, many of those projects were funded through the Ghana Education Trust Fund and were either completed or at advanced stages when the NPP left office. He therefore rejected the suggestion that the previous administration left the country without a pathway towards ending the system, insisting that the process was set in motion.
“Ghanaians were told that the double track system was going to end in 2025. Then later the story changed to 2026, now the story has changed to 2029.”
Dr Fred Kyei Asamoah
Honourable Asamoah argued that the changing timelines demonstrated the need for greater consistency in the implementation of educational policies. Furthermore, he contended that infrastructure expansion should have been part of a broader plan to ease pressure on senior high schools and create sufficient capacity for students.
The Education Committee Member stressed that physical facilities alone, however, could not guarantee a successful transition because schools also require adequate human resources to function effectively. He recalled that the previous administration recruited more than 23,000 personnel during the COVID period as part of efforts to strengthen the education workforce.
Additionally, Honourable Asamoah linked the infrastructure programme to the broader objective of ensuring that students could progress through the education system without being excluded because of capacity limitations. He argued that completed projects in schools should now be fully utilised to support increased enrolment and improve learning conditions.
Every Child Deserves Support To Reach Full Potential
Member of Parliament for Offinso North, Honourable Fred Kyei Asamoah, also called for stronger educational interventions to help students overcome differences in their learning environments and realise their full potential.
The Education Committee Member argued that academic performance cannot be separated from the conditions in which children learn, noting that students have different levels of support available to them at home and in school.
Honourable Asamoah explained that children from well resourced environments may receive additional teaching and parental support that others do not have access to, making targeted interventions essential. He therefore urged the government to create learning conditions that give every child a fair opportunity to succeed regardless of their background or location.
The Offinso North MP also highlighted the role of teachers in identifying students who require additional assistance and providing the individual support needed to improve their academic development. He noted that children do not have identical learning abilities or attention spans, meaning that a uniform approach cannot adequately address the needs of every learner.
“Every student can perform depending on the environment you put them. The basic requirement we are asking government is to provide that environment and that opportunity for every child.”
Dr Fred Kyei Asamoah
Honourable Asamoah referenced his constituency as an example of what targeted engagement can achieve, disclosing that collaboration with district authorities and students have contributed to a student recording a single digit score. Additionally, he called for stronger cooperation between schools, parents, district authorities and government to identify challenges early and respond with appropriate support.
The Education Committee Member stressed that improving education should not be reduced to examination results, since the quality of learning opportunities ultimately influences the country’s future workforce. He also urged policymakers to recognise education as a strategic national investment capable of determining Ghana’s long term economic prospects.
According to Honourable Asamoah, natural resources such as gold and cocoa cannot remain the sole foundation of national development indefinitely, making investment in human capital increasingly important. He therefore advocated sustained support for teachers, students and educational institutions as part of a broader effort to strengthen the country’s human resource base.
Moreover, the Offinso North MP called on the government to ensure that interventions reach children who require additional help, regardless of their location or family circumstances. He stressed that every child should have access to the support necessary to continue learning and develop the skills required for adulthood.
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