The Ghana Education Service (GES) has directed all senior high and technical schools to observe the Easter celebration by taking a break from April 6, 2023.
However, the GES has announced that Senior High School 1 students will remain on vacation until the June 2023 resumption date.
This announcement was contained in a communiqué sent out to school heads across the country, signed by the Deputy Director General of GES, Dr Kwabena Bempah Tandoh.
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The statement urged regional directors to ensure that heads of second cycle schools comply with the directive.
The directive means that all SHS 2 and 3 students will take a break for Easter and return to school afterward. However, SHS 1 students, who are currently on vacation, will not return to school until June 2023.
The decision has been made under the transitional calendar system that was introduced by the GES to address overcrowding in the schools.
The transitional calendar system is a phased approach to the implementation of the Free Senior High School policy.
It allows new entrants to Senior High School to begin their academic year in September, while continuing students in SHS 2 and 3 return to school in January of the following year.
The system aims to reduce class sizes and improve teaching and learning outcomes.
Parents of SHS 1 students have expressed mixed reactions to the directive. Some have expressed concern about the extended vacation period and its potential impact on their children’s academic progress.
Others have welcomed the decision, citing the benefits of reduced class sizes and improved teacher-student ratios.
Meanwhile, school heads have been directed to use the extended vacation period to prepare adequately for the return of students in June.
They have also been urged to engage in academic activities such as teacher training and curriculum review to enhance the quality of education in their institutions.
In conclusion, the GES directive means that SHS 1 students will have an extended vacation until June 2023, while SHS 2 and 3 students will take a break for Easter and return to school afterward.
The transitional calendar system aims to reduce class sizes and improve teaching and learning outcomes in Senior High Schools.
