Most Ghanaians who fault double-track back new schools, 38.4% reject borrowing – IEA poll

A recent poll conducted by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) reveals that most Ghanaians who believe the double-track system has negatively impacted Senior High School (SHS) education support the government's proposal to borrow funds for constructing additional schools and eventually phasing out the double-track system. According to the IEA report published on September 15, 60.8% of those who expressed concerns over the quality of education in the double-track system are in favor of government borrowing to build more SHS facilities.

However, 38.4% of this group opposes this proposal, citing worries about Ghana's already substantial public debt. The IEA indicated that the results suggest that while many Ghanaians acknowledge the need for infrastructure expansion to enhance the quality of secondary education, there are also concerns about the financial consequences of using borrowed resources.

The IEA noted that among those who oppose additional borrowing, there is a preference for alternative financing methods. They believe constructing SHS infrastructure through borrowed funds could exacerbate pressure on public finances and therefore advocate for the government to explore different financing options for expanding school facilities.

The nationwide IEA poll, which polled 1,062 respondents from all 16 regions, found that 64.7% of respondents agreed that the double-track system had contributed to a decline in SHS education quality. Introduced in 2018 as a response to the surge in school enrollment following the Free SHS policy, the double-track system involved dividing students into two groups that alternated attendance to accommodate more pupils within existing facilities.

Despite the overall findings pointing towards a preference for expanding SHS infrastructure, the IEA stressed the necessity for the government to meticulously evaluate the fiscal implications of financing such expansion through borrowing.