Question

The Double Track System is a new change initiative in Ghana’s secondary education system. Using the Force Fields Analysis, Outline and critically evaluate the driving and resisting forces for the change. Describe what resistance, if any, was offered to that change initiative.Using Lewin's Change Model, make recommendations for improving the implementation of change in similar circumstances in the future.

Answer 1

The Double Track System was introduced by the Government of Ghana under their educational policy initiative of Free Senior High School Education to help Schools in Ghana to take in more students and to ensure all Ghanian students have access to Senior High School education . Under this scheme two separate batch of students can enroll and simultaneously have classes one after the other . These two batches were labelled as The Green & The Gold Track . First The Green Track students will have classes on the day and after they are gone for the day The Gold Track would come in and have classes .

Here the driving forces were views from the proponents (which were mainly from the Government ) . And these views were :

1. Enrollment of more and more students there by increasing access of students to higher secondary education .

2. Capacity expansion of schools as they can absorb more students .

3. Flexibility for students to choose the time .

The resisting forces were the views from the critics (which were the other stake holders like school authorities ) & some practical issues . These were :

1. Non availability of sufficient quality teachers so quality education could not be guaranteed .

2. Under prepared infrastructure and requisite facilities at the schools .

3. Insufficient logistical support .

So as is evident from the above analysis Government has gone for a change without making the ground ready for the change . They should have followed the 3 Phase Lewin's Change Model and would have easily implemented the change . In future it is recommended that they use this model while implementing any change . As Lewin's model the three phases of change are :

A . Unfreezing : Here we make the ground ready to accept the change where all stake holders are involved and convinced that change will be significantly beneficial and therefore should be implemented . All obstacles & hindrances are removed . In above case infrastructure should have been made ready , numbers of quality trained teachers should be increased & logistical support should have been improved along with acceptance of all stakeholders .

B. Changing : Here once the ground is prepared and all relevant stakeholders are ready to accept the change , the change can be introduced . In above case as well once the ground was prepared and all infrastructure including trained teachers & logistical support was ready the double track system could have been introduced .

C. Refreezing : Here the change is reinforced and solidified and all teething if any are taken care of . In above case as well there were in fact too money issues after the change was implemented but if they have followed the steps as indicated above they could have had only few manageable issues which they could easily have taken care off.