A majority of Ghanaians surveyed by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) believe the double-track system has contributed to a decline in the quality of senior high school (SHS) education.
The IEA’s nationwide poll, conducted in August 2026 across all 16 regions, found that 64.7% of the 1,062 respondents said the double-track system had reduced the quality of SHS education.
According to the survey, respondents largely attributed the decline to pressure on existing school infrastructure and the student-teacher ratio.
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The double-track system was introduced in 2018 as a temporary measure to accommodate the sharp increase in student enrolment following the introduction of the Free SHS policy.
The survey showed that only 20.2% of respondents believed the double-track system had improved the quality of SHS education.
Another 14.7% said the system had not affected education quality, while 0.2% had no opinion.
The findings come eight years after the introduction of the double-track arrangement, which was designed to allow more students to access existing school facilities by dividing students into two groups that take turns attending school.
The arrangement enabled the government to accommodate the growing number of students entering senior high school without immediately having to construct enough new infrastructure to meet demand.
However, the continued use of the system has generated concerns about pressure on classrooms, dormitories and other school facilities, as well as the availability of teachers.
Despite concerns over Ghana’s public debt, the IEA survey found that 54.3% of respondents supported government borrowing to construct additional schools as a long-term measure to phase out the double-track system.
The move would allow the government to expand SHS infrastructure and gradually return schools to a single-track arrangement.
However, 38.4% of respondents opposed borrowing for additional school infrastructure, while 6.2% expressed no opinion.
The findings indicate that while many Ghanaians want the double-track system phased out, there is also significant concern about the financial implications of borrowing to finance the required infrastructure.
Among respondents who said the double-track system had reduced the quality of SHS education, 60.8% supported government borrowing to construct additional school infrastructure.
A further 38.4% opposed borrowing for the construction of additional infrastructure, while 0.8% had no opinion.
The figures suggest that a significant proportion of respondents who are concerned about the quality of SHS education view increased infrastructure as part of the solution.
The IEA said expanding school infrastructure could help address some of the challenges associated with the double-track system, but financing the expansion remains a major consideration.
The policy think tank said the survey highlights two important concerns: the need to expand SHS infrastructure to improve education quality and the need to finance that expansion without putting additional pressure on Ghana’s public finances.
The IEA noted that opposition to further borrowing reflects concerns about the country’s debt situation.
According to the think tank, although many respondents support expanding infrastructure to help end the double-track system, a substantial number would prefer government to consider alternative financing arrangements rather than increase the public debt burden.
The IEA said the findings underline the need for a sustainable approach to addressing the infrastructure challenges facing senior high schools.
The debate over the future of the double-track system is expected to remain central to discussions about the quality, financing and sustainability of Ghana’s Free SHS programme.