The Ghana Education Service (GES) has officially rescheduled the reopening date for single-track Senior High Schools (SHSs), moving it from the initially planned March 29, 2025, to a new date of April 23, 2025.

This adjustment comes as part of efforts to streamline the academic calendar while accommodating national events.

In a statement issued by the GES, the revised reopening date was formally communicated to all regional education directors, ensuring that schools, students, and parents are well-informed.

The directive, signed by Prince C. Agyeman-Duah, Director of the Schools and Instructions Division, on behalf of the Acting Director-General of GES, instructed regional directors to disseminate the updated information to all relevant stakeholders.

The GES emphasized its commitment to maintaining a well-structured academic calendar that minimizes disruptions while prioritizing the welfare of students and staff.

“By this letter, regional directors of education are requested to communicate this information to all heads of single-track senior high and senior high technical schools to inform parents, guardians, and students to take note of the new date and prepare accordingly.”
Ghana Education Service (GES)

Initially, students were set to resume classes on March 29, 2025, after vacating on March 4.

However, the scheduled Eid-Ul-Fitr celebrations, which fall on March 30 and 31, necessitated a change in the reopening date. Authorities decided to push the reopening to April 1, 2025, to accommodate the public holidays.

Following further deliberations, education officials opted for an extended break, ultimately rescheduling the reopening to April 23, 2025.

This decision was influenced by the need to ensure a smooth transition for students and staff while respecting the national holiday calendar.

A statement from the Ministry of the Interior confirmed that Eid-Ul-Fitr would be observed on Sunday, March 30, 2025.

Given that the holiday falls on a weekend, the President, through an Executive Instrument (E.I.), officially designated Monday, March 31, and Tuesday, April 1, 2025, as public holidays.

This declaration aligns with Section 2 of the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act (Act 601), ensuring nationwide observance of the festivities.

GES Defends Decision to Delay Reopening

Additionally, Ghana Education Service (GES) Public Relations Officer Cassandra Twum-Ampofo defended the decision to postpone the reopening date.

She explained that resuming academic activities just before a series of public holidays would pose significant logistical challenges for both students and school administrators.

According to her, requiring students to travel back to school only to break again for the Eid-Ul-Fitr holidays would be impractical and inconvenient.

By extending the reopening date, the GES aims to ensure a smoother transition back to school while prioritizing the safety and well-being of students, parents, and staff.

“Monday and Tuesday had been declared as statutory holidays, and just after they returned, there would be a break for Easter celebrations. It would not be prudent to allow students to be travelling back and forth, considering the risks involved.”
Cassandra Twum-Ampofo

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To prevent disruptions to the academic calendar, the GES opted for a more stable reopening period after the holidays.

Twum-Ampofo further assured that despite the delay, measures were in place to ensure that students, especially final-year candidates preparing for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), would not lose out on valuable instructional hours.

“There is always an instructional hour added to make up for breaks of this nature,” she explained, emphasizing that such scheduling adjustments are not new.

“So, it is also not something new. The only thing is that we didn’t want the situation whereby when they come, just Monday, Tuesday, there’s a holiday, and then there is also an Easter break.”
Cassandra Twum-Ampofo

Twum-Ampofo further clarified that the revised reopening date applies exclusively to students in single-track Senior High Schools (SHSs).

She emphasized that double-track students are not affected by this adjustment and will continue following their academic calendar as originally planned.

She urged students, parents, and educators to take note of the updated schedule and make the necessary preparations to ensure a smooth transition back to school.

The Ghana Education Service (GES), she assured, remains committed to maintaining an effective academic year while balancing educational priorities with national events and observances.

As the new reopening date approaches, stakeholders are encouraged to stay informed and plan accordingly to avoid any disruptions.