The Assistant Headmaster in Charge of Academics at the Accra Girls Senior High School, Sebastian Akalinya, has said that no senior high school will do any meaningful teaching and learning from now until the students go on Christmas break on 21st December, 2023.
He stated that schools have not done the necessary fumigation and upgrade of facilities.
Speaking to TV3’s George Kwaning on Monday, December 4, Mr Akalinya said “When the students report today, per the calendar, they are supposed to go home on 21st December and then they will return on the 4th of January for us to continue the academic year. Anybody who says he can do anything, is something that may yet to be imagined, because now that we are going to classify the teachers into the various Form 1 classes and also put our facilities in shape for them.
“All these things we couldn’t do in one week or less than one week. They left on Thursday. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, we couldn’t have done the fumigation and upgrading of some of the facilities that we have for them to come. It is going to be difficult.
“Since they say we should [report today], who are we today no. Let us put it to the test so that along the line the powers that be will find the reason in whatever decisions they have taken, we look forward to a different situation. Any school what they can do now is the orientation, let them know the school environment. but for proper academic work then it means that the school had prepared far in advance.”
Senior High School students are reporting today Monday, December 4. The Ghana Education Service (GES) announced to the general public that the reopening date was December 4 as indicated on the placement form. This was despite the concerns raised about the date.
The GES said it is the expectation of Management that schools begin registration and orientation of students from today December 4. It added that per the academic calendar, there would be a Christmas break on the 21st of December, 2023 and resume on the 3rd of January, 2024 to continue academic work till 5th March, 2024.
“Management urges all students yet to do their Self-placement to do so as quickly as practicable. We appreciate all stakeholders for collaborating and supporting the CSSPS process to this point. We continue to ask for your patience to ensure the academic calendar for SHS is implemented without hitches to get back to the pre-COVID academic calendar,” a statement said.
This comes at a time Parliament told the Minister of Education Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum to reschedule the date for the start of academic works at the senior high schools to January.
In the view of the House, this will allow parents, students, teachers enough time to prepare.
Despite concerns about the short period students have to prepare before reporting to school, the Ministry of Education on Thursday, November 30, insisted that the reopening date for fresh Senior High School students remained December 4, 2023 as contained in the 2023/2024 academic calendar released by the GES.
A statement by the Parliamentary Service noted that “due to the short notice with its attendant inconvenience to students, parents, teaching and non-teaching staff, the House proposes for the consideration of the Hon. Minister of Education the first week of January 2024 as a more convenient and appropriate time for parents, students and teachers to adequately prepare for academic work.”
The Parliamentary Service in the statement dated Friday, December 1, added “In view of the urgency of this matter and various concerns raised by Members of Parliament and other stakeholders, the Rt. Hon Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has directed the Minister of Education to appear before the House and brief Members on Monday, December 4, 2023, at 12:30 pm.