The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has commended the Ministry of Education for its decision to revert from the double-track system to the single-track calendar, beginning October 31, 2025 with the start of the 2025/2026 academic year.
The Ministry explained that the single-track will restore a predictable timetable for parents and allow for the smooth organisation of extracurricular activities such as sports, clubs and cultural events.
GNAT’s General Secretary, Thomas Tanko Musah, acknowledged that the double-track system was an emergency response introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. He welcomed the shift back to single-track, stressing that it will ease the strain on teachers, students and facilities. Mr. Thomas Musah further urged the government to put in place sustainable policies and strategies to maintain the single-track calendar for future generations.
He emphasised that Ghana cannot continue to rely on emergency measures when the conditions that triggered them no longer exist. Rather, education policies must be long-term, practical and able to withstand challenges. He encouraged all stakeholders, especially the Minister of Education, to pursue lasting solutions that safeguard quality education“.
The decision by the Ministry of Education to revert to the single-track system marks a significant and commendable turning point in our educational journey. The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) deserves praise for its firm support of this policy, which prioritises sustainability and the holistic development of students.
The double-track system, though necessary during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, was never meant to be a permanent arrangement. While it created temporary space to absorb the increasing number of students, it came at a cost. Students were deprived of continuous contact hours with teachers, disrupting the depth and consistency of learning. Many parents also struggled with the unpredictability of the calendar, which made it difficult to plan family and economic activities.
Now that we are returning to the single-track system, the challenge is to make it sustainable. This move must not be a mere reversal, but a deliberate effort to improve educational infrastructure, teaching resources, and overall learning environments.
Schools across the country still face overcrowded classrooms, inadequate dormitories, insufficient laboratories, and poor sanitation facilities. If these gaps are not addressed, the single-track system could once again be overwhelmed, forcing the country back into emergency measures.
The government must, therefore, seize this opportunity to commit to a long-term investment in education. Expanding infrastructure, recruiting and training more teachers and providing adequate teaching materials are not optional luxuries but fundamental requirements. The single-track system should be anchored by policies that guarantee every child access to quality and uninterrupted education.
This shift is a reminder that our educational policies must be future-oriented, not crisis-driven. Building sustainable systems today will shield the country from future shocks, whether pandemics, population surges or economic challenges.
The return to single-track is a positive step, but it must be matched with bold investments and strong political will. Only then can the promise of free and quality education for every Ghanaian child be truly realised.
