Double-track was introduced to manage high demand for popular SHSs, not infrastructure shortage – Adutwum

Secondary Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has explained that the introduction of the double-track system in Senior High Schools (SHSs) was primarily aimed at addressing high demand for places in popular schools, not a shortage of physical infrastructure. Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse, Dr Adutwum cited research that suggested merely building new schools would not make them as desirable to parents as already established Category A schools.

According to him, not all schools were placed on the double-track system due to a lack of space; in fact, approximately 40% of the schools that began the double-track system were not high-demand schools and continued to operate on a single-track basis. The policy was designed to tackle a demand problem by increasing the number of students who could access high-performing schools like the prestigious Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School (PRESEC), which led to improved academic outcomes.

Dr Adutwum highlighted that students who gained admission to these top schools had a high likelihood of achieving strong grades, significantly enhancing their future opportunities. He emphasized that students from certain communities who were given access to leading schools experienced transformative opportunities that they could not have otherwise obtained.