The Ghana Education Service (GES) has reaffirmed its commitment to the original 2024/25 academic calendar, despite concerns raised by the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS). In a statement released on January 2, 2025, the GES clarified that Senior High School (SHS) students are expected to return to school today, January 3, 2025, while primary and Junior High Schools (JHS) will reopen on January 8, 2025.
The GES's decision comes amidst calls from CHASS for the Ministry of Education to address financial challenges faced by second-cycle schools. CHASS had warned that failing to resolve these issues could disrupt the reopening process and strongly advised against the January 3 reopening for SHS students, calling for a postponement.
Despite these concerns, the GES emphasized that reopening dates for all levels of education will proceed as previously scheduled. The GES urged students, staff, parents, and the public to take note and comply with the announced academic schedule.
It's worth noting that the 2024/25 academic calendar was released earlier, with the new academic year beginning on October 30, 2024, for all Senior High Schools. The calendar outlines key dates, including term dates, holidays, and examination periods, to help students, parents, and educators plan for the academic year.
Background
The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) has been at the forefront of advocating for the welfare of second-cycle schools in Ghana. Recently, CHASS urged the Ministry of Education to address the financial challenges faced by these schools, warning that failure to do so could disrupt the reopening process.
According to CHASS, the government owes senior high schools significant amounts of money for essential services such as food, transportation, utilities, and operational expenses for both day and boarding schools. These unpaid funds have severely impacted the smooth operation of schools, hindering their ability to provide quality education to students.
CHASS emphasized that the situation poses a serious threat to the smooth operation of schools and could negatively impact students' well-being. The organization called on the government to prioritize the immediate payment of these outstanding debts to ensure a smooth and successful start to the upcoming academic year.
In a press release issued on December 21, 2024, CHASS expressed deep concern over the government's failure to fully address critical financial needs of senior high schools across the country. The organization threatened to advise against the reopening of schools in January 2025 if outstanding debts are not settled.
The warning from CHASS came as the Ghana Education Service (GES) announced that Senior High School (SHS) students would return to school on January 3, 2025, while primary and Junior High Schools (JHS) would reopen on January 8, 2025. However, CHASS strongly advised against the January 3 reopening for SHS students, calling for a postponement due to the unresolved financial issues.
It remains to be seen how the government will respond to CHASS's demands, but one thing is clear: the financial challenges faced by second-cycle schools in Ghana need to be addressed urgently to ensure the smooth operation of schools and the well-being of students.
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