The Ghana Education Service has re-introduced the three-term academic calendar that was used before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Management of GES in a statement signed by Deputy Director-General for Quality and Access of the Ghana Education Service, Dr Kwabena Tandoh, on September 13 stated that the reopening date for Basic Schools(KG, Primary and Junior High Schools) across the country for the First Term of 2023/2024 academic year is October 3, 2023.
“This brings the academic calendar back to pre-COVID-19”, excerpts of the statement highlighted.
Management moreover showed gratitude for the immense support of teaching and non-teaching staff who ensured that teaching and learning were carried out during the COVID-19 era in the country.
Regional Directors of Education were requested to communicate the reopening date to Metro/Municipal/District Directors of Education to inform all Heads of Basic Schools to bring to the attention of parents, guardians and students to take note and prepare accordingly for smooth and effective academic work.
Find the press statement from GES below
Background
The Ghana Education Service(GES) in 2022 introduced a semester-based academic calendar for public Kindergarten, Primary, and Junior High Schools.
Deputy Director-General for Quality and Access of the Ghana Education Service, Dr. Kwabena Tandoh in an interview with Citi TV and monitored by The Ghana Report, noted that the system will help ease pressure on teachers, decongest the various schools, and help align academic calendars.
“We know based on research that one of the causes of classroom absenteeism among teachers in the various schools was because some teachers sought to upgrade themselves. This is because the three-term system in the basic schools overlaps with the university system. Gradually, we are getting to the point where we can align. We are giving teachers the time, by aligning their system with the university systems to upgrade if need be.”
“Recent research in Greater Accra showed that because primary schools had a different calendar from the Junior High Schools, parents could not align. Research also showed that because the primary school children had a different timetable from the Junior High Schools when the latter was in session, attendance went down by 11%”, he added.