Ghanaians put education quality ahead of debt concerns in double track debate- IEA Poll

A majority of Ghanaians are willing to support additional government borrowing if it will help end the Double-Track System in Senior High Schools, despite growing concerns over the country’s public debt.

This is according to a nationwide poll conducted by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), which suggests that the pressure created by the Double-Track System has become significant enough for many citizens to favour new infrastructure investment, even where it may require additional borrowing.

The August 2026 IEA Socioeconomic Poll surveyed 1,062 respondents across all 16 regions.

QUALITY DROPS

The poll found that 64.7 per cent of respondents believe the Double-Track System has contributed to a decline in the quality of Senior High School(SHS) education.

Only 20.2 per cent said the system had improved the quality of education, while 14.7 per cent said it had no effect. Another 0.2 per cent expressed no opinion.

The findings point to a growing public perception that the infrastructure arrangement introduced to accommodate the surge in enrolment under Free SHS may have achieved its access objective while creating challenges for educational quality.

The Double-Track System was introduced in 2018, a year after the implementation of the Free SHS policy, as government sought to accommodate a sharp increase in the number of students entering Senior High School.

DEBT TRADE-OFF

Despite concerns about Ghana’s debt situation, 54.3 per cent of respondents support government borrowing to construct additional SHS infrastructure and eliminate the Double-Track System.

However, 38.4 per cent oppose the proposal, while 6.2 per cent expressed no opinion.

The figures reveal a significant public willingness to accept additional borrowing for education infrastructure, but also show that a sizeable proportion of Ghanaians remain uncomfortable with adding to the country’s debt burden.

The IEA says the relatively strong support for borrowing may reflect the continued pressure on existing SHS infrastructure resulting from high enrolment levels following the introduction of Free SHS.

STRONGER SUPPORT

Support becomes even more pronounced among respondents who believe the Double-Track System has damaged education quality.

Among this group, 60.8 per cent support government borrowing to construct additional SHS infrastructure, compared with 38.4 per cent who oppose it and 0.8 per cent who expressed no opinion.

The finding suggests that citizens who are most dissatisfied with the quality of education are also more likely to see infrastructure expansion as necessary to address the problem.

For those opposed to borrowing, however, the solution lies elsewhere. The IEA notes that they would prefer government to explore alternative financing mechanisms rather than increase pressure on public finances through additional debt.

POLICY CHALLENGE

The poll presents government with a difficult balancing act.

The public appears to want an end to Double-Track and believes additional infrastructure is necessary to achieve that goal. At the same time, concerns about Ghana’s debt position mean that borrowing to finance the expansion does not enjoy universal support.

The findings therefore shift the debate beyond the question of whether Double-Track should be scrapped.

The more difficult question is how Ghana can finance the infrastructure needed to end the system without undermining efforts to maintain fiscal stability.

The IEA says the results point to a clear public preference for expanding SHS infrastructure, while underscoring the need for government to carefully assess the fiscal implications of financing such expansion through borrowing.