"New School Calendar, Same Old Hustle? My Thoughts on the GES 2025/2026 Academic Plan"
A few years ago, I missed my nephew’s end-of-term performance because—surprise!—the school calendar had quietly shifted, again. I showed up a week late, wearing my “Best Uncle Ever†T-shirt and holding balloons. Not my finest moment.
So when I stumbled across the 2025/2026 academic calendar released by the Ghana Education Service (GES), I paused. Like, really paused. I thought, are we finally getting some stability… or just another reshuffle with a fancier title?
Here’s the gist: the new calendar spells out three terms, each clearly defined with reopening and vacation dates for public basic schools—kindergarten, primary, and JHS. Term 1 kicks off around mid-January 2025, and Term 3 wraps up by mid-December. The structure looks organized on paper. Looks.
But here’s where it gets real—how many parents, especially those deep in rural communities, even know this calendar exists? I mean, we love announcements in Ghana, but sometimes they feel like whispers in a crowded room. By the time most parents hear it, it’s already implementation week.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I love the idea of structure. Predictability helps everyone—from teachers trying to plan lessons to parents juggling work and PTA meetings (and somehow finding time for Waakye on a Wednesday morning). But honestly, I wasn't sure if this would change anything. Because in my opinion, the problem hasn't always been the dates—it's the communication, the inconsistency, and the lack of follow-through.
Like last year, when schools reopened later than planned due to unpaid capitation grants. That little hiccup threw everyone's schedule off. Teachers were stressed, students were confused, and parents—well, they just rolled with it. As usual.
I also wonder how teachers feel about this. No, seriously. Have we asked them? I’ve got a few friends in the system, and they’re constantly saying things like, “It’s not the teaching that’s hard—it’s all the ‘extra’ that comes with it.†Timetables change, plans change, and they’re expected to smile through it all. That can’t be easy.
To be fair, this calendar might help. It gives a clearer roadmap for the year ahead, and that’s a good thing. It even aligns with SHS academic structures, which could reduce the disjoint between basic and secondary levels. That’s smart planning… if it’s followed.
But still, I can’t help but ask: will this be just another neatly printed schedule we forget after the first PTA meeting? Or can it actually lead to more consistent learning, less confusion, and maybe—just maybe—a school year where everyone’s on the same page?
I may be wrong, but I think it’ll come down to one simple thing: will we stick to it this time?
What do you think—are these calendar changes really helping our education system evolve, or are we just spinning in circles with new labels each year?