Reopening Date Rescheduled for Single-Track SHSs By GES

New Reopening Date Announced
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has revised the reopening date for single-track SHS (Senior High Schools) from March 29, 2025, to April 23, 2025. This adjustment was outlined in a circular dated March 27, 2025, and addressed to all regional directors of education.

The letter, signed by Prince C. Agyeman-Duah, Director of the Schools and Instructions Division, on behalf of the Acting Director-General of GES, directed regional directors to communicate the changes to school heads, parents, guardians, and students.

Reason for the Rescheduling The Single-Track SHS’s Date

Students were initially scheduled to resume on March 29, 2025, after their vacation on March 4, 2025. However, due to the Eid-Ul-Fitr public holidays on March 30 and 31, the reopening of single-track SHS was first pushed to April 1. Further considerations resulted in an extension to April 23.

The Ministry of the Interior explained that since Eid-Ul-Fitr falls on Sunday, March 30, 2025, the President, through an Executive Instrument (E.I.), declared Monday, March 31, and Tuesday, April 1, as additional public holidays.

GES Clarifies Decision

GES Public Relations Officer, Cassandra Twum-Ampofo, explained that reopening schools just before multiple holidays could expose students to unnecessary travel risks.

“Monday and Tuesday had been declared statutory holidays, and shortly after, there would be an Easter break. It would not be prudent to allow students to travel back and forth under such conditions,” she stated.

To maintain a smooth academic schedule, GES management opted to adjust the school calendar.

Impact on Academic Calendar

Addressing concerns about the impact on final-year students preparing for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), Ms. Twum-Ampofo assured that measures were in place to compensate for lost instructional time.

“There is always an instructional hour added to make up for breaks of this nature,” she said, emphasizing that such adjustments were necessary due to unavoidable holidays like Eid-Ul-Fitr and Easter.

She further clarified that this change applies only to single-tracks. Double-track students remain unaffected and will continue following their existing academic calendar.