NAGRAT to Gov’t – Suspend double-track system for now

• Posted on August 1, 2018
• by Ellsamwise King
• Comment

The National Association of Graduate Teachers, NAGRAT, is demanding the suspension of the double-track system for Senior High Schools until enough consultations are carried out.

The teachers claim they have been left out of the process, although they’re major stakeholders in the expected implementation.

They are therefore calling for broader consultations with everyone, including religious bodies, community leaders, other teacher unions and political party representatives.

This was contained in a communique issued by NAGRAT after a National Executive Meeting on the double track system.

Angel Carbonu, President of NAGRAT, said  “If it is rolled out anyway without our inputs and our advice when there are consequences no one should hold us responsible. The way forward is for government to suspend the programme and do a wider consultation of stakeholders,” he said.

NAGRAT also wants heads of Senior High Schools who form the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary School (CHASS), to state their position on the proposed double-track system.

The teachers say they find it surprising that school administrators have remained silent on the policy.

“But for CHASS members to be quiet on such a critical and important policy is absolutely disappointing. We expected CHASS to come out and raise issues, regardless of whatever victimization some of them envisage,” he said.

Former President John Mahama has also called for a national consultation to build consensus on a sustainable framework for the implementation of government’s Free Senior High School policy.

According to Mr. Mahama, the mode of implementation for the Free SHS on an ad-hoc basis is improper.

Ex-President Mahama tweeted that proposals made by the government to modify Senior High Education in the country through the double-track system should be subjected a  broad stakeholder consultation adding that it is not too late to revise the Free SHS policy.

President Nana Akufo-Addo has defended his administration’s decision to roll out the new intake system for Senior High Schools beginning this September.

According to him, his critics will be put to shame when the system is finally rolled out successfully in September.

“I am sure that in two or three years, the comments made by the representatives of the teachers about the quality of examination passes will be a thing of the past. So I want you to support this dual intake system as being a very efficient way of dealing with this large class thing,” the President added.