Senior high schools across the Greater Accra Region are calling for urgent infrastructure support as they continue to grapple with the effects of the double track system and increasing student populations.
This plea comes after members of Parliament’s Select Committee on Education embarked on a working visit to five schools in the region; hemu Senior High, Accra Girls’ Senior High, Achimota School, Accra High School, and Accra Academy to assess the challenges faced by institutions under the double track system and to explore possible policy responses.
At Chemu Senior High School, school administrators highlighted their recent achievements in national competitions such as the National Science and Maths Quiz.
However, the celebrations were overshadowed by serious infrastructural challenges. The Headmistress pointed to an unfinished six-unit classroom block and limited boarding facilities as major hurdles to providing quality education. She appealed for the committee’s assistance in fast-tracking the release of funds to complete the project.
At Accra Girls’ Senior High School, the Assistant Headmistress shared the school’s impressive 95.4% pass rate in the 2024 WASSCE. Despite this, she raised red flags about inadequate facilities, particularly the need for a modern library and a larger assembly hall to accommodate the growing student population. The assistant head also expressed concern about the social implications of the double track system, citing the lack of structured breaks as contributing to a rise in teenage pregnancies among students during their time off campus.
Achimota School’s Headmaster, Mr. Ebenezer Graham Acquaah, acknowledged that the school had returned to a single-track calendar but noted the residual strain on both staff and facilities caused by the previous system. He emphasized the pressing need for enhanced security infrastructure to ensure the safety of students and staff alike.
Meanwhile, at Accra Academy, Headmaster Mr. Emmanuel Ofoe Fiemawhle reported a steady improvement in academic performance, up from 80.21% in 2021 to a consistent 80% currently. Yet he cautioned that classroom shortages remain a persistent issue. He called on the government to prioritize the construction of an 18-unit classroom block to alleviate overcrowding and support sustained academic progress.
Committee Chairman Hon. Peter Kwasi Nortsu-Kotoe acknowledged the concerns raised by all the schools and commended their staff and students for their commitment and resilience. He assured school authorities that the committee would advocate for improved funding and infrastructure development to support teaching and learning.
“This visit has been very enlightening,” Nortsu-Kotoe said. “We are committed to working with the Ministry of Education to find sustainable solutions to the infrastructure deficits and ensure every student has access to a conducive learning environment.”
The committee’s findings will be compiled into a report to inform future policy interventions aimed at strengthening the nation’s senior high school system.
