The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced its plan to provide free quality Senior High School (SHS) education and abolish the double-track system if elected into power. According to Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communication Officer for the NDC, the double-track system is detrimental to children’s education due to inadequate infrastructure, exacerbated by the increasing number of students.
Gyamfi explained that the NDC’s plan to abolish the double-track system involves completing abandoned e-blocks, expanding existing infrastructure, and utilizing private SHS facilities to create the necessary space. He assured Ghanaians that when John Mahama assumes the presidency on January 7, 2025, the double-track system will be eliminated by January 2026, allowing all SHS students to attend school simultaneously.
Gyamfi criticized the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for acknowledging the flaws in the free SHS policy and attempting to scrap it within three years, stating that the NDC has a better plan to address the issues. The NDC’s plan involves collaborating with private schools to utilize their idle facilities and support the free SHS policy when they come into power.
Gyamfi highlighted John Mahama’s introduction of progressive free SHS in 2015, which benefited 320,000 day students in public SHS, who paid no school fees except for minimal PTA levies. He emphasized that the NDC is committed to providing quality education to all Ghanaian children, and the abolition of the double-track system is a key part of that plan.
Gyamfi’s announcement has been welcomed by many Ghanaians who are frustrated with the current state of the education system and the challenges posed by the double-track system. The NDC’s promise to abolish the double-track system and provide free quality SHS education is a key campaign promise ahead of the 2024 elections.
