Request to GES to Appoint Separate Heads for Primary and JHSs

It has been the norm of the Ghana Education Service (GES) appointing a single headteacher for a Basic School (a school comprising a Kindergarten, Primary and JHS on the same compound). A Primary and JHS located on different compounds (usually 100 metres apart and beyond) are assigned different headteachers to make management and administration of the schools easier and more convenient.

The current educational structure for the JHSs has been synched with the Senior High School academic calendar to establish some semblance (Prof. Opoku Amankwa, D/G, GES on Ekosii Sen at Asempa FM, 04/01/21). This makes the Kindergartens and Primary Schools appear structurally different as regards the academic calendar, curriculum and management.

With the Primary Schools proceeding with the usual trimester system, the JHSs would now operate on a semester basis. The Primary Schools would be in school for the First Term from 18th January to 16th April, 2021, 4th May to 6th August, 2021 for Second Term and finally from 6th September to 10th December, 2021 for the Third Term.

The JHS, on the other hand, would be in school from 18th January to 11th June, 2021 for the First Semester and from 6th July to 10th December, 2021for the Second Semester, with intermittent week long mid semester holidays from 15th to 19th March and 6th to 10th September for the First and Second Semesters respectively.

Implications on Headteachers' work schedule

1. The difference in school session and vacation schedules in the Primary and JHS departments means that headteachers managing both departments would have to work throughout the year and would only enjoy the December vacation, increasing their work load.

2. JHSs would be in school while the Primary Schools are on vacation and vice versa. In both cases, the Basic School headteachers would remain at work. For instance a headteacher with his/her family in the Bono Region who leaves for work in January at Ekawso Basic School in the Eastern Region would only be able to spend quality time with his family during the December break.

3. It would be hectic for a single headteacher to supervise the implementation of two unique curricula programmes (Standards-based curriculum for Primary and KGs and the Common Core Programme for JHSs), considering their very little time for rest in the academic year. They would also be burdened with the task of attending workshops and programmes on behalf of their Primary and Junior High Schools.

Recommendations

It is in light of the above that I submit to the management of GES the following recommendations:

1. That the Management of GES considers splitting of all Basic Schools in Ghana into two distinct departments as shaped by provisions in the new curriculum, and appoint different headteachers to manage these two different departments. This would make management easier and efficient as headteachers would remain focused in seeing to the effective implementation of the new curriculum.

Appointing separate heads for Primary and JHSs would also ensure that all headteachers have enough rest in the form of vacations. This would enhance their work efficiency as fatigue would be reduced.

2. That the Management of GES, while considering the above recommendation, should remunerate headteachers of Basic Schools to compensate for their loss of vacation time.

Thank you.

Joseph Amofah,

Educationist.