We will work with teacher unions to ensure 2022 academy calendar is not disrupted – GES

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has assured that it will engage the various Teacher Unions and relevant stakeholders to ensure the 2022 academic calendar is not disrupted.

The GES and the Ministry of Education have come under criticism in the past week after announcing intention to change this year’s academic calendar from a trimester to a semester system.

In an interview with GHOneTV on Monday, President for the Coalition of Concerned Teachers – Ghana (CCT-GH), King Ali Awudu described the move as improper, insisting that teachers who are key stakeholders in the education sector have not been consulted.

“The GES wants to introduce long hours, that even University students do not spend that long hours. Again basic schools are spending 42-weeks in a year, but SHS 3 students for example are spending less than 42-weeks. We think this is not proper and we are asking the GES to suspend this particular academic calendar. Invite all stakeholders to the table and let us negotiate because that is what our collective agreement and code of conduct says,” he shared.

Following the conversation that ensued, the Ghana Education Service is now ready to engage the teacher unions.

“Indeed, the Ministerial Committee on Schools Calendar engaged representatives of the Unions and Schools Heads. However, we will continue to engage the Unions and other stakeholders if they have noted additional concerns since the release of the calendar.

“We wish to assure parents, students, teachers and the general public that GES will work closely with the Unions and other stakeholders to ensure that the 2022 Academic Calendar is not disrupted,” the GES has said in a statement signed by its Head of Public Affairs Unit, Cassandra Twum Ampofo.

The upcoming meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday, January 20, 2022.