GES Cancels Mid-Term Break to Recover Lost Instructional Hours Amid School Disruptions

Introduction

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced the cancellation of the upcoming two-day mid-term break across basic and secondary schools, a move designed to recover crucial instructional hours lost to recent industrial actions and administrative disruptions. The decision comes as educational authorities grapple with the broader fallout of labor tensions affecting the academic calendar.

Academic Recovery Measures

In a directive issued to regional and district directors, the GES emphasized the urgent need to stabilize the school calendar and ensure that students are adequately prepared for upcoming terminal assessments. Recent weeks have seen various educational stakeholders, including colleges of education staff and teaching associations, stage actions or issue strike threats over working conditions and delayed negotiations, severely impacting classroom learning.

While educational administrators maintain that the adjustment is vital for syllabus completion, student bodies and parent associations have closely monitored the situation, expressing concerns over student fatigue and the rapid pace required to catch up on missed coursework. Meanwhile, related developments in the sector—such as the recent arrest of two teachers at Techiman Senior High School over an alleged student assault and ongoing anti-bullying campaigns led by figures like Baffoe-Bonnie—continue to draw intense public scrutiny regarding school discipline and staff conduct.

Key Takeaways

• The Ghana Education Service has called off the scheduled two-day mid-term break to compensate for strike-related disruptions.
• The directive applies to schools nationwide seeking to recover lost instructional hours before upcoming exams.
• The decision follows a series of administrative challenges and labor unrest across Ghana’s educational institutions.