Ghana Education Service (GES), the statutory body in charge of running education at the pre-tertiary levels, has restored the academic calendar to the pre-COVID-19 era.
The GES, after almost three academic calendar years of consciously trying to restore the calendar, has made progress, subsequently, the first term of the 2023/2024 academic year begins on October 3, 2023.
The academic calendar which for decades started from September/October shifted to January due to the breakout of the COVID-19 pandemic which disrupted global ecosystems for almost two years.
In a memo signed by the Deputy Director-General of the GES in charge of quality and access, Dr Kwabena Bempah Tandoh, the GES said: “Management of the Ghana Education Service wishes to inform the general public that the reopening date for pre-tertiary schools, specifically basic schools, Kindergarten (KG), primary, and junior high schools (JHS), across the country for the first term of the 2023/2024 academic year is October 3, 2023.”
The memo addressed to all regional directors of education on behalf of the Director-General of the GES, stated, mentioned that this directive is to finally bring back the academic calendar to pre-COVID-19.
“By this letter, regional directors of education are requested to communicate this 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 a smooth and effective academic work.”
The distraction of the previous academic calendar which existed for decades happened on March 16, 2020, when the President, Nana Akufo Addo, made a declaration for all schools in the country to be closed as part of efforts to mitigate the spread of the global pandemic COVID-19.
The announcement, which was received by the general public at the time as a step in the right direction, brought all academic activities to an abrupt end, thereby throwing the academic calendar out of gear.
In 2022, the GES developed a transitional timetable in an attempt to revert the academic calendar to the pre-COVID-19 era. This has caused some inconvenience to teachers and students alike at the pre-tertiary level; however, the GES believes that the reset will soon stabilize the calendar and bring relief to all stakeholders in the academic value chain.
