In opposition, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) made it their mission to demonize the double-track policy, labeling it a “failure” and vowing to eliminate it within 90 days of assuming office.

Today, our Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, says the policy will remain until 2027.

That’s not just a U-turn; it’s a manifestation of their prior ignorance and lack of understanding regarding the policy.

Let’s be clear: Free SHS was not just a political promise, but a constitutional duty and a catalyst for socioeconomic progress.

Its success led to a surge in enrollment, naturally straining infrastructure and resources—a global norm when access expands.

Yet Ghana defied the odds with the innovative double-track system, a practical solution to manage the increased demand.

Double-track reduced class sizes, improved teacher-student ratios, extended teaching hours, and created jobs.

Importantly, it advanced gender parity and gave underprivileged students access to elite schools like PRESEC, Wesley Girls, and Prempeh College—institutions that doubled their intake to accommodate thousands who previously had no chance.

The real challenge in phasing out the policy has never been infrastructure alone, but preference. Each year, over 100,000 spaces go unused because students can’t be placed in schools they didn’t choose, despite availability.

The result? Overcrowding in some schools and under-enrollment in others. Until we bridge the quality gap between schools, buildings alone won’t solve this imbalance.

That’s why our administration introduced STEM schools and upgraded them to Category A to shift demand and offer quality alternatives.

So, contrary to the misinformation the NDC spread, time has again proven that the double-track was never a flaw, but a bold, strategic solution that expanded access without compromising quality.