Free SHS, Double Track system are the boldest educational initiatives – UEW VC

Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, Rev. Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni has commended government for taking what he calls the boldest decision in the country’s educational sector with the introduction of the free SHS policy and its accompanying Double Track system.

According to the Acting Vice Chancellor, the policy has great potential in providing a strong cornerstone for development and called on all to support the policy to minimize implementation hitches.

Speaking at an interaction with traditional leaders and the people of Effutu in the Central Region, the UEW VC, indicated, the University has commissioned a research to track the SHS preparation and admission intake for Effutuman kids over the next five years.

“I have charged the Dean of the faculty of Education studies to initiate and lead a research that will track SHS preparation and admission intake for Effutuman kids over the next five years. Through the study, we hope to help both the Effutuman and the government to monitor and evaluate the Free SHS policy and its connected double-track system within the municipality.”

“We must emphasize that free SHS is the boldest and best educational policy initiatives that our nation has seen. This is because this policy has great potential in providing a strong cornerstone for development, we must all lend our unflinching support and commitment to the government to ensure its huge success,” he averred.

Rev. Prof. Afful-Broni says the University of Education is committed to the cause of the Free SHS policy and announced plans by the University to absorb the first batch of the free SHS system. He posits the university prepared the grounds to expand their intake in 2020 to help absorb many of the free SHS graduates.

“To show our strong commitment to the government’s vision of providing expanded access to high tertiary education through the Free SHS policy, this University has taken practical steps to absorb the huge number of applicants that will seek admission to our various programmes during the 2020 academic year when the first batch of the free SHS will be due to enter University.”

“Designs have been completed and contracts are about to be awarded for the construction of 8 pavilions, each with 550 seat capacity, all in anticipation of the arrival of the first batch of the free SHS students. We are increasing and expanding Wi-Fi access to ease research, teaching and learning, we are bringing on board more resources and more lecturers are being employed to meet the numbers,” he stated.

The Acting VC commended government for introducing the double track system. According to him, the double track system is an internationally acclaimed system that breeds quality and ensures equity.