We Did Broad-Based Consultation for Double Track ― Napo tells Critics

The Minister for Education Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has debunked claims that proper stakeholder consultation on the Double Track System (DTS) was not properly done.

According to him, the ministry in their quest to develop the double track system went through various stakeholders’ meetings and engagements to ensure that the programme in the near future does not have a backlash.

Taking his turn at the meet the press series held in Accra, yesterday, the minister said the suggestions of various stakeholders have been infused into the final blue print of the Double Track programme.

“Really, the stakeholders’ meetings have enriched our ideas, our thoughts and our suggestions even to cabinet,” he said.

Cabinet being a major stakeholder in the fine-tuning of the policy have on several occasions revisited the policy draft to ensure that government was on the right path.

Other stakeholders consulted include; Regional Ministers, Eminent Educationists in the Country, Teachers Unions, Ministry of Information, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and Ghana Education Service Council.

The minister added that some religious and civic society groups were also consulted for their inputs.

“In fact, we met all these church leaders and some invited us to their general synod to come and discuss it further with them,” Dr Prempeh revealed.

He continued: “These were not information meetings, these were serious stakeholder consultation where rich decisions and ideas have been incorporated into our final design.”

The final blue prints for the double track system according to the minister, would be made available on the ministry’s website for the perusal of all and sundry.

Double Track

The main objectives of the yet-to-happen Double-track School, is to create room to accommodate increase in enrolment, reduce class sizes and to increase teacher-student contact hours.

By: Abigail Karikari and Pamela Adoley Allotey