Gov’t moves to scrap double-track as Haruna Iddrisu details massive GH₵3bn SHS funding

Government of Ghana has finalized a massive capital investment strategy designed to permanently eliminate the double-track academic calendar in Senior High Schools (SHSs) nationwide.

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu is scheduled to publicly unveil the blueprints for a cabinet-approved GH₵3 billion infrastructure development programme during a highly anticipated presentation at the Government Accountability Series.

The multi-billion cedi package represents the state’s definitive blueprint to close the severe secondary school accommodation and classroom deficits that originally forced the introduction of the dual-track system.According to an official briefing issued by the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the infrastructure build-out will take center stage during a comprehensive mid-year assessment of the national education sector.

The aggressive development plan scales up the government's previous localized funding initiatives, combining an immediate allocation of GH₵1 billion from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) with global support facilities.

State officials confirm that the infrastructure push aims to fully resolve space shortages across affected institutions, clearing the path to smoothly phase out the split-semester system completely by 2027.The double-track system was initially deployed as a temporary emergency measure to absorb the massive surge in secondary school enrollment following the implementation of the Free SHS policy.

However, prolonged infrastructural bottlenecks kept many top-tier institutions dependent on the alternating calendar, drawing sustained complaints from parents and education administrators over erratic scheduling.

Minister Haruna Iddrisu's upcoming master plan will detail the precise allocation of resources to upgrade lower-tier schools, expand hostel capacities, and construct new physical blocks to ensure all secondary students can attend classes and take vacations simultaneously.

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