The Headmaster of Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary, Rev. Fr. Benjamin Opoku Ohene, has announced that the school will reduce its student intake beginning the 2025/2026 academic year as part of efforts to phase out the double track system.
The double-track system was introduced in 2017 by previous NPP government to manage increased enrollment under the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy due to inadequate infrastructure.
It divides the student population and staff into two tracks, “Green” and “Gold,” with one track in school while the other is one vacation.
The system has however faced long criticism for its negative impact on contact hours and academic performance of studentd.
President John Mahatma led NDC government promised to abolish the system and revert to the old system of education.
Currently some Private schools have been included in the free SHS policy to absorb some of the students.
Speaking during the school’s 67th Anniversary Speech and Prize-Giving Day, Rev. Fr. Opoku Ohene explained that the decision follows a directive by the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES), aimed at gradually migrating all Senior High Schools currently running the transitional double track program to a single track system by 2027.
“Ministry of Education in collaboration with Ghana Education service in consultation with Senior High Schools running the transitional program who intend to migrate to the single track in the year 2027,to effectively achieve this in our school there will be the needs to reduce the intake of students and the number of classes starting with the coming of this 2025/2026 form one admission” He said.
He disclosed that under the new arrangement:General Arts and General Science classes will reduce from 7 to 5 each,Business classes will drop from 4 to 3 while Visual Arts classes will be reduced from 3 to 2.
“The indication is that we shall reduce the current number of classes for all the form one programs therefore General Arts and General Science classes will be reduced from 7 to 5 respective. Business will reduce from 4 to 3 and visual Arts will reduce from 3 to 2 .
The headmaster further noted that while the policy would help ease congestion and improve academic conditions in the long term, it may also come with difficult consequences in the future, including potential staff redundancies and a gradual reduction in the number of teaching positions available at the school.
“There are other far reaching consequential effect namely one day there shall be redundancy and the reduction of number of teachers with time”.said the Headmaster.
The school joins other Senior High Schools across the country preparing to fully revert to the single track system by 2027 in line with national education reforms.
Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah,who was Guest of Honour at the event called on Ghanaian youth to take advantage of the government’s “One Million Coders” programme to prepare themselves for opportunities in the digital ecosystem.
Dr. Omane Boamah explained that digital literacy is no longer a privilege for a select few, but an essential tool for survival and success in every profession.
“This programme is about giving young people the tools they need to thrive in a digital age—skills in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, coding, data analysis, and more.These are not luxury skills for Silicon Valley—they’re becoming basic survival tools for modern life”. Dr. Omane Boamah stated
He stressed that whether the Ghanaian youth intend to pursue careers in medicine, education, engineering, or agriculture, digital skills will amplify their abilities and position them competitively in both local and global job markets.
Dr. Omane Boamah said the programme seeks not only to train coders but to build capacity to solve uniquely Ghanaian problems and enhance security of the country.
“We’re building capacity to solve real Ghanaian problems —how to improve healthcare with data,
how to protect farms with smart tools, how to use AI to boost learning in our classrooms, or how
to defend our nation more intelligently and securely”
He appealed to alumni and parents to contribute towards upgrading the school’s infrastructure, particularly its science laboratories and ICT facilities, to align with Ghana’s digital future.
Dr. Omane Boamah challenged the students to see emerging global challenges such as climate change, digital disruption, global health threats, and economic inequalities as opportunities for innovation and leadership.
“The world is changing. Learn digital skills, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship. Build things. Break things. Try again. Learn, unlearn and re-learn.Use your knowledge to serve others. That’s where real joy comes from”
Source : www.kumasi.com /Obed Ansah
