Enemies Of Double Track System Lacks Alternative – Bawumia

Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has hit hard at critics of the double-track system saying they have no alternative.

Dr. Bawumia at government's 2020 town hall meeting in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi, said criticisms against the double-track system were unfounded, given that it was introduced as a temporary measure to tackle accommodation challenges in various Senior High schools.

He said doing away with the double-track system will only imply an abolition of the free SHS policy.

“The question that we faced when we tried implementing this free SHS policy was if we do not have enough infrastructure. How can we tell whose child should stay at home and whose child should go to school? In response to this challenge, we introduced the innovative double track system as a temporary solution to the problem while we introduce new schools. This is a temporary solution while we build more and more schools to do this so I will say it is better to educate a child even under a tree than to let them be sitting at home.”

“Those who are criticizing the double-track system have not been able to offer one alternative. They will just say I will abolish the double track but they will not tell you what they will replace it with and they cannot tell you because abolishing double-track means abolishing free SHS,” Dr. Bawumia said.

The government adopted the temporary system, which began in some 400 Senior High Schools in the country to cater for increased enrollment under its flagship free Senior High School programme, due to a deficit in infrastructure.

The system has been criticized by many including former President John Dramani Mahama who said government hurriedly implemented the system without thoroughly engaging with stakeholders.

Dr. Bawumia said the government is also investing in the construction of schools and infrastructure to address the accommodation deficit in various schools.

---citinewsroom