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Dean of the School of Performing Arts at the University of Ghana, Prof. Kofi Agyekum aka Opanin Agyekum, has welcomed the decision of the Ministry of Education to adopt a double tracking system for students who will be admitted into SHS1 in September for the 2018/2019 academic year.

He has, however, urged the Ministry of Education to run it on a pilot basis before fully implementing it.

Contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM's morning show ‘Kokrokoo’, Opanyin Agyekum said the idea is good but there there is the need for broader consultation with stakeholders before the rollout of the double-track system to avoid a ‘half-baked’ system.

"We are dealing with the future of our kids and so care must be taken. September is just around the corner. Left to me alone, more school buildings should be constructed, more teachers should be trained and for now, it should be piloted in some of the schools for a year to see the outcome," he indicated.

Background

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says, from September 2018, Government will implement the double intake system for new entrants into the country’s public Senior High Schools, which will address the growing numbers of students benefitting from the Free SHS policy.

According to President Akufo-Addo, because of the large number of students likely to be admitted to SHS, there was high propensity for the schools to have large class sizes.

With the introduction of the double intake system, he said, the size of classes would be reduced, a situation which was key to ensuring quality
education.

But the announcement of the proposed double intake system has been met with mixed reactions. While some have expressed support for it, others are very apprehensive of the initiative, saying it will affect the quality of education.