The Centre for Educational Research and Training, (CERT) has asked the Ministry of Education to quickly review the number of schools on the double track system.
The Acting Executive Director of CERT, Emmanuel Ofosuhene in a statement, observed that many of the nearly 400 schools originally placed on the double track did not receive the required numbers to warrant them continues placement on the double track.
“CERT calls on the ministry of Education to quickly review the number of schools on the double track. CERT has observed that many of the nearly 400 schools originally placed on the double track did not receive the required numbers to warrant their continues placement on the double track. Moreover we have observed that over 100 schools on the track have the capacity and infrastructure to run a single/regular track. We urge the ministry of education to send their monitors around to identify such schools and place them on a single track,” he said
Below is the full statement:
CERT COMMENDS GOVERNMENT FOR THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DOUBLE TRACK COMPONENT OF FREE SHS.
1. The centre for Educational Research and Training applauds the ministry of Education under the able Leadership of Hon. Matthew Opoku Prempeh and his Lieutenants for a successful implementation of the Double track component of the audacious free Senior High School Policy.
2. The government via the ministry of Education having realized the dire consequences of the sudden surge of BECE candidates desirous of accessing secondary education; perhaps, ignited by the FSHS policy, vis a vis the perennial infrastructure deficits in our schools, quickly thought outside the box and settled on Double track as the way to go under the circumstances. But for the timely introduction of this policy, the fate of over 181,000 candidates will have been endangered as there would be no space for them to attend school.
3. CERT’s preliminary observations of the CSSPS placements of the candidates into their respective schools choices and the subsequent admission and enrollment of students have been generally smooth and incident free. On this score, CERT would like to commend CHASS, staff of all the schools and parents for their collaborative efforts towards the roll out of this policy.
4. CERT is of the view that events that led to the introduction of the Double Track Policy is the failure of successive governments to expand infrastructure in our schools. CERT observed that the facilities deficiencies in our schools is just a microcosm of the general infrastructure limitations in the country.
5. CERT is however thrilled by the bold moves by the government to use the expected GETFund levies to secure over 500 million Ghana cedis to address the multiple infrastructure challenges in the Senior High Schools within the shortest possible time.
6. CERT applauds the MOU signed between the Ghana Education Service and Ghana Health Service that aims at improving the health needs of students while in School. We commend efforts by the Ghana Health Service to spearhead the screening of first year students and the provision of health services to all schools by its personnel on agreed terms.
7. The fumigation exercise currently ongoing in the schools also needs mentioning. In recent times, our schools have been ravaged by the dreaded bedbugs. These insects have made live in our schools most uncomfortable for students. Hence such fumigation exercise must be routine and well coordinated to ensure that these bedbugs are checkmated.
8. CERT calls on the ministry of Education to quickly review the number of schools on the double track. CERT has observed that many of the nearly 400 schools originally placed on the double track did not receive the required numbers to warrant their continues placement on the double track. Moreover we have observed that over 100 schools on the track have the capacity and infrastructure to run a single/regular track. We urge the ministry of education to send their monitors around to identify such schools and place them on a single track.
9. CERT has observed that the introduction of the double track has disrupted the sports programme in the schools as sports masters have no definite programme to get all students on the different tracks for Inter-schools sports competition. We implore the Ghana Education Service to quickly address this issue as sports is part of the school curriculum and is an opportunity for students to exhibit their talents.
10. CERT encourages all stakeholders to continue to support government in its quest to ensure that every Ghanaian child enjoys free Education at least up to the secondary level; a vision that CERT shares in its fullness.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com
