A major milestone is on the horizon for Ghana’s education sector as the government finalizes an ambitious capital investment strategy aimed at permanently ending the double-track academic calendar in Senior High Schools (SHSs) nationwide.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu is set to unveil the cabinet-approved GH₵3 billion infrastructure development programme at the eagerly awaited Government Accountability Series. The initiative, described as a definitive blueprint for the future of secondary education, seeks to close the chronic accommodation and classroom deficits that first led to the adoption of the dual-track system.
According to Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, the massive infrastructure build-out will be a focal point during the upcoming mid-year review of the national education sector. The plan significantly expands on previous localized funding efforts, combining an immediate GH₵1 billion allocation from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) with additional global support facilities.
Government officials confirm that the infrastructure drive is designed to resolve space shortages across affected schools, paving the way for the complete phase-out of the split-semester system by 2027. The double-track calendar was initially introduced as a stopgap to accommodate the surge in student enrollment following the launch of the Free SHS policy.
However, persistent infrastructure bottlenecks have forced many top-tier schools to maintain the alternating schedule, drawing criticism from parents and administrators frustrated by unpredictable academic timetables.
Minister Iddrisu’s forthcoming master plan will offer a detailed roadmap for upgrading lower-tier schools, expanding hostel facilities, and constructing new classroom blocks.
The goal is clear: to ensure all SHS students can attend classes and enjoy regular vacations together, marking the end of the double-track era and heralding a new chapter in Ghana’s educational journey.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com