2023 BECE graduates waiting for the release of their school placement are so anxious, but they, as SHS1 students, will break two weeks after reporting to school due to the Christmas festivities.
Per the released calendar for SHS students, all schools will have a short Christmas break on December 21st and report to school on January 2, 2024, to continue their first semester of the year.
The GES also stated in its released academic calendar that SHS1 students will report to school on December 4th, 2022. The meaning of reporting on December 4th has been well explained in this post, What Does December 4th, 2023, Reporting Day for SHS1 Students Mean?
The December 4th reporting date is not the same as the date for the start of academic activities such as teaching and learning for SHS1 students.
Hence, SHS 1 students are not likely to start learning until December 8, 2023. This leaves them with only two weeks of learning before they return home for the holiday break.
Parents must therefore be financially ready to transport their children to school and also spend the same to bring them home on December 21st before taking them back to school on January 2nd.
According to the GES’s calendar, SHS1 students in double-track schools will then stay in class until March 5, 2024, at which point they will leave, while their counterparts in single-track schools will leave on March 15, 2024.
SHS 1 Academic Calendar For 2023 BECE Graduates
ACADEMIC CALENDAR FOR SHS 1- SINGLE TRACK
First Semester
Students will be in school from 4th December, 2023 to 15th March, 2024. Vacation starts from 16th March, 2024 to 2nd May, 2024.
NB: There is going to be a Christmas break from 21st December, 2023 to 2nd January, 2024.
Second Semester
Students will resume on 3rd May, 2024 to and vacate on 28th August, 2024.
TRANSITIONAL ACADEMIC CALENDAR (DOUBLE TRACK)
First Semester
SHS 1 students will begin the Academic year on 4th December, 2023 and end it on 5th March, 2024. Students will then go on break from 6th March, 2024 to 12th May, 2024..
Recommendations for the government:
- Reconsider the SHS academic calendar to allow for a longer first semester for SHS1 students. Thus, SHS1 students should report to school at the latest by October 2024. This would give them more time to settle into their new school environment and start their academic journey on a strong footing.
Recommendations for students:
- Use the two weeks to catch up on any schoolwork, start studying, and get involved in extracurricular activities in school.
- Make the most of their time in school by attending all classes, participating in discussions, and completing all assignments.
Recommendations for parents:
- Encourage their children to stay active and engaged in schoolwork and extracurricular activities during the break.
- Be prepared to provide financial support to their children for transportation and other expenses associated with the two-week break.
The two-week break in December will be a challenging time for SHS1 students, as they will have to balance their academic and personal needs. However, with careful planning and support from parents, students, and the government, they can make the most of this time and start their academic journey on a strong footing.
Where is Ghana education going? The standard of the one prestigious second cycle education is falling drastically and a second look should be given to it. Looks like the center cannot hold.