Dr. Clement Apaak, the spokesperson for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the area of Education for the party’s manifesto, who qualified the ruling government’s implementation of the free Senior High School (SHS) policy as a failed one, has pledged that the NDC will end the double-track system within a year of assuming power.
According to him, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) was not prepared to roll out the free SHS policy but forced themselves to do it unprepared. Hence, the current problems with the policy, especially the infrastructure deficit.
The government of Ghana introduced the free Senior High School (SHS) policy to promote equal access to education for all in the country. The implementation of the policy led to a rise in the number of students admitted into Senior High Schools (SHS) in its first year which led to a negative correlation between the schools’ population and their available infrastructure and other amenities.
The government of the day found a temporary solution to the overpopulated schools by initiating the double-track system which received criticism from most in the country, especially the opposition NDC.
Speaking in an interview with Happy 98.9 FM’s Samuel Eshun, host of the Happy Morning Show, Dr. Apaak said, “With the big push agenda, we should be able to resolve this matter in the shortest possible time. Both our secretary and flag bearer have indicated on numerous occasions that we will end the double-track policy in a year.”
He noted that the cardinal reason for the double-track system was the infrastructural deficit and the NDC will need the specified time to build infrastructure across the length and breadth of the country, “and improve infrastructure on campuses across the country”.
On his authority, the NDC is the only party that can end the double-track system in the shortest possible time as the NPP is not sure when they can do that. “There have been conflicting statements from the NPP on when the double-track system will end. The president said by 2024, some NPP big wigs said in 6 years and the vice president said very soon. But we have given you a year to end the double-track policy.”
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa South Constituency furthered that the NDC intends to complete the rest of the community day school project they started, build structures on the various campuses and also build new schools entirely.
“We know the Ghanaian is looking to us to abolish the double-track system which is a good policy poorly implemented by the sitting government”.
On how the NDC will manage to fund their infrastructural projects, the politician was quick to note that they will rely on revenue from the country’s oil resources with extra support from internally generated funds.
At the NDC’s manifesto launch ahead of the December 7 elections, the party promised to make the Free Senior High School Programme better by ensuring that its numerous challenges are addressed, and higher standards introduced by expanding the Free SHS programme to cover students in private Senior High Schools in underserved/deprived areas and also abolish the double-track system.
By: Joel Sanco
