“Management of the Ghana Education Service wishes to inform you that the reopening date for basic schools (Kindergarten (KG), primary and junior high schools), across the country for the first term of the 2023/2024 academic year is October 3, 2023,” a memo signed and issued by the Deputy Director-General of the GES in charge of quality and access, Dr Kwabena Bempah Tandoh, said.

Appreciation

The memo, cited by the Daily Graphic and addressed to all regional directors of education on behalf of the Director-General of the GES, stated, “This brings back the academic calendar to pre-COVID-19.”

The memo conveyed to all teaching and non-teaching staff the sincere appreciation of management for their immense support during the efforts to ensure teaching and learning during, “the difficult period of our country”.

It said, “By this letter, regional directors of education are requested to communicate this date to metro/municipal/district directors of education to inform all heads of basic schools to bring to the attention of parents/guardians and students to take note and prepare accordingly for a smooth and effective academic work.”

On March 16, 2020, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo directed the closure of all schools after the country recorded its initial cases of COVID-19.

The announcement brought all academic activities to an abrupt end, thereby throwing the academic calendar out of gear.

Since then, the beginning of the academic year has been shifted from September/October to January.

This went on until 2022 when the GES developed a transitional timetable in an attempt to revert the academic calendar to the pre-COVID-19 era.