Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has cautioned against calls to abolish the double-track system in Ghana’s secondary education.

He warned that its removal could significantly limit access to free senior high school education for many students.

According to Dr. Adutwum, the double-track system plays an essential role in the government’s efforts to ensure that more Ghanaian students benefit from the Free SHS policy.

The Minister’s remarks come in response to increasing calls from some stakeholders who argue that the double-track system is flawed and should be discontinued.

Critics believe that the structure disrupts students’ education and strains resources.

However, Dr. Adutwum maintains that the double-track system is a temporary but necessary solution to expand educational opportunities across the country.

Speaking with Citi FM during an unannounced visit to the Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (PRESEC), Dr. Adutwum explained the rationale behind implementing the double-track system.

He stated that it was introduced to accommodate the growing demand for secondary education, especially in highly sought-after schools with limited infrastructure, thus allowing more students to enroll than would otherwise be possible.

Dr. Adutwum acknowledged that as certain schools expand their facilities and infrastructure, some have already been able to phase out the double-track system.

This shift, he explained, demonstrates the government’s commitment to eventually return to a single-track system as capacity grows across the educational sector.

Until more schools can accommodate larger numbers of students, however, Dr. Adutwum emphasized that the double-track system remains vital.

He reassured Ghanaians that the policy is aimed at ensuring no child is denied secondary education due to facility constraints, and he encouraged patience as schools continue to improve their infrastructure.

“This year, several schools are moving away from Double Track because they have enough facilities. So the whole premise is this, every young man growing up in Ghana wants to come to PRESEC.

"What does that mean for us as a nation? We need to provide more facilities so that PRESEC can educate more students for us."

“But until we get those facilities, it makes sense to divide the PRESEC population into three, keep one at home while two of them are here until such a time that you can put up more buildings and all of them will come at the same time. So it’s well thought through."

“This system has been used in some countries around the world, including the United States of America. So what we are introducing here is research-driven.

"If the double track is such a bad thing, Why is it that PRESEC has implemented it and they have gotten better outcomes than when there was no double track?”