Double track to continue for now — GES
The Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Professor Ernest Kofi Davis, has clarified that the Double Track system in senior high schools cannot be scrapped immediately, despite ongoing government plans to phase it out.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, 27 August 2025, Prof Davis explained that although the government is committed to ending the policy, infrastructural and resource limitations make an immediate cancellation impractical.
He noted that the Double Track system was introduced in response to the surge in enrolment following the implementation of the Free Senior High School policy. The measure, he said, was essential to guarantee access to education for all qualified students.
“Any abrupt cancellation could lead to congestion in schools and deny access to thousands of students,” he cautioned, adding that the government and the GES are working together to expand facilities and ensure a smooth transition.
Warning Against Illegal Placements
Prof Davis also cautioned parents and guardians against making payments to secure senior high school placements for their wards.
He stressed that placement is strictly determined by merit and performance in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), warning that attempts to circumvent the process undermine fairness and transparency.
“The Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) was designed to promote equal opportunity. Any effort to influence the process through illegal means risks sanctions for both parents and officials involved,” Prof Davis stated.
He further urged the public to report individuals or middlemen who solicit money for school placement, assuring that the GES will collaborate with law enforcement agencies to safeguard the integrity of the system.
Commitment to Smooth Transition
The GES Director-General reiterated that the government remains committed to expanding infrastructure in order to eventually eliminate the need for the Double Track arrangement.
He assured parents, students and stakeholders that efforts are underway to create the right environment for a seamless transition.
“The process requires time and resources, but the end goal is to ensure that every child continues to have access to quality secondary education,” Prof Davis added.
