The Ghana Education Service (GES) has extended the mid-semester break of Senior High School (SHS) students under the double-track system from November 12 to November 15, 2019.
This decision comes on the back of a request from the leadership of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) to prolong the break.
This extension, according to the Service, is to “provide an opportunity for the schools to prepare their facilities before students return”.
Aside from the SHS 3 students who will return to school as scheduled previously, this extension applies to the Form 1 and 2 students on the Gold Track who were supposed to return to school on the 12th of November.
A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the GES, Cassandra Twum Ampofo further urged “all staff, parents, students and the general public to take note of this new development”.
About double-track system
The implementation of the double-track system in some 400 Senior High Schools in Ghana began on September 11, 2018.
The new system, which was created due to an increase in enrollment is expected to create space to accommodate more students, reduce class size, increase contact hours and increase the number of holidays.
The government adopted the double-track system to cater for increased enrollment under its flagship free Senior High School programme, due to a deficit in infrastructure.
Postponement of mid-semester break won’t affect academic calendar
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer for the Ghana Education Service, Ekow Vincent Assafuah the postponement of the mid-semester break won’t affect the academic calendar for students on the gold track.