GES Releases 2026/2027 Academic Year Calendar and 2027 BECE Date
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has officially announced the academic calendar for the 2026/2027 session, providing a clear roadmap for Basic Schools (Kindergarten, Primary, and Junior High Schools). In a press release dated May 6, 2026, the GES outlined the dates for all three terms, including the highly anticipated schedule for the 2027 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
Per the released academic calendar, term 1 of the 2026/2027 academic year will start on 8th September, 2026. During the first term of the new academic year, schools will be in session for 15 weeks. Term one of the new academic year ends on 18th December, 2026. Learners and educators will be on vacation from 18th December to 4th January, 2027.
The second term of the 2026/2027 academic year starts on 5th January, 2027, and will last for just 12 weeks. Schools will close on 26th March till 19th April, 2027.
The third term of 2026-2027 will commence on 20th April 2027. This will be in session until 23rd July, when schools vacate.
| Term | Event | Date(s) |
| First Term | Reopening | 8th September, 2026 |
| (15 Weeks) | Mid-Term Break | 5th & 6th November, 2026 |
| Closing | 17th December, 2026 | |
| Vacation | 18th Dec, 2026 – 4th Jan, 2027 | |
| Second Term | Reopening | 5th January, 2027 |
| (12 Weeks) | Closing | 25th March, 2027 |
| Vacation | 26th March – 19th April, 2027 | |
| Third Term | Reopening | 20th April, 2027 |
| (14 Weeks) | 2027 BECE | 5th May – 12th May, 2027 |
| Closing | 22nd July, 2027 | |
| Vacation | 23rd July, 2027 (End of Year) |
According to the release, the first term will span 15 weeks, starting on September 8, 2026. A major highlight for final-year JHS students is the confirmation of the BECE dates, which are set for Wednesday, 5th May to 12th May, 2027.
The 2027 BECE will be very special in many ways. It will be the 4th BECE based on the new curriculum. It will also be the first BECE that will see the introduction of the Beacon of Light as the literature text for the BECE.
Based on the official 2026/2027 academic calendar released by the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the standard examination patterns established by WAEC, we can project a highly probable timetable for the 2027 BECE. The 2027 BECE will be administered to students who are currently in grade 8 in public and private schools.
The GES has already confirmed the exam window as Wednesday, 5th May, to Wednesday, 12th May, 2027. The projected 2027 BECE timetable is as follows.
Following the 2026 pattern, subjects are typically paired (one morning and one afternoon) and administered over six examination days.
| Date | Session | Subject (Papers 1 & 2) | Time |
| Wed. 5th May, 2027 | Morning | English Language | 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM |
| Afternoon | Religious & Moral Education | 1:00 PM – 2:45 PM | |
| Thu. 6th May, 2027 | Morning | Social Studies | 9:00 AM – 10:45 AM |
| Afternoon | Creative Arts & Design | 1:00 PM – 3:05 PM | |
| Fri. 7th May, 2027 | Morning | Integrated Science | 9:00 AM – 11:10 AM |
| Afternoon | Career Technology | 1:00 PM – 3:05 PM | |
| Mon. 10th May, 2027 | Morning | Mathematics | 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM |
| Afternoon | Ghanaian Language | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM | |
| Tue. 11th May, 2027 | Morning | French | 9:00 AM – 10:45 AM |
| Afternoon | Computing | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM | |
| Wed. 12th May, 2027 | Morning | Arabic | 9:00 AM – 10:45 AM |
Teachers, schools, and education-related stakeholders need to use the released calendar to plan their activities for the next academic year.
This is the first time in the histiory of the GES that, the academic calendar has been released at least two months to the end of the a current academic year.
Stakeholders are reminded to observe all public holidays and the mandatory two-day midterm breaks scheduled for each term.
In a related development, the Ghana Education Service is yet to release the 2026/2027 academic calendar of the second cycle schools.
