New Academic Calendar: The Ghana Education Service (GES) recently announced the 2024/2025 academic calendar for second-cycle institutions, set to begin on October 30, 2024.

The calendar has generated mixed reactions from stakeholders, including parents, educators, and advocacy groups, who are concerned about the number and quality of contact hours available to students under the new schedule.

Concerns About the New Academic Calendar

Many stakeholders fear that the compressed timeline may hinder students’ ability to cover the curriculum comprehensively, especially in critical subjects, and may limit teachers’ effectiveness in delivering lessons. Given the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to temporary adjustments and emergency measures like hybrid learning, there is apprehension about whether the new schedule will adequately prepare students for final examinations and higher education.

Rationale Behind the New Academic Calendar

The GES’s decision to adopt the new calendar is aimed at restoring and stabilizing the academic schedule, aligning it with regional expectations and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) cycle. Before the pandemic, Ghana’s academic calendar was synchronized with other WAEC member countries, such as Nigeria, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Liberia, allowing students to take the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in May/June each year. The pandemic disrupted this cycle, necessitating adjustments to the calendar.

Also read: WAEC Releases 2024 BECE Results; Announces Penalties for Exam Malpractices

To revert to the pre-COVID academic cycle, the 2024/2025 academic year will begin on October 30, 2024, with the goal of returning to a September start by the 2025/2026 academic year. This will allow Ghanaian students to write the WASSCE alongside their regional counterparts in May/June 2026. Such alignment is critical for standardizing academic assessments across the region and ensuring Ghanaian students are not disadvantaged.

The calendar adjustments also aim to realign the Senior High School (SHS) schedule with that of tertiary institutions. Before the pandemic, the synchronization of these calendars ensured smooth transitions between educational levels, minimized delays in tertiary admissions, and maintained a cohesive education system.

Addressing Specific Concerns for First-Year Students

Some misinformation has emerged regarding the transition for first-year students in transitional calendar schools, suggesting that they were promoted prematurely. In reality, these students began their first semester in December 2023 and have been attending classes throughout the year, with a summer break from July to September 2024. The timeline for their promotion to Form 2 on October 30, 2024, aligns with the broader academic plan, ensuring they have had adequate time to complete their first-year studies.

The Larger Objective: Stabilizing the Education System

The GES‘s long-term goal is to stabilize the education system and revert to pre-pandemic standards. By gradually restoring a September start date and aligning with WAEC’s regional schedule, the changes will reduce the backlog of students awaiting tertiary admissions, streamline admissions processes, and improve the overall efficiency of the education pipeline.

Conclusion

The new academic calendar is a strategic step to bring Ghana’s education system back in line with regional and international standards. While there are valid concerns about contact hours and curriculum coverage, the long-term benefits of restoring stability to the academic calendar far outweigh the temporary adjustments required. By the 2025/2026 academic year, Ghana is expected to have a fully stabilized education system, providing consistency for students, educators, and institutions.