SHS Freshers Report Today

First-year Senior High School (SHS) students will have to abide by the initial opening date set by the Ghana Education Service (GES) despite concerns raised by a section of Ghanaians.

In a statement, the GES said students are to report to school on Monday, December 4, 2023, as indicated on their school placement form. They will take a Christmas break and then resume after the New Year’s day before their vacation on March 5.

“It is the expectation of Management that schools begin registration and orientation of students from the 4th of December 2023. Per the academic calendar, there would be Christmas break on the 21 of December 2023 and resume on the 3rd of January to continue academic work till March 5 2024,” it said urging students who are yet to undergo self-placement to do so quickly.

It added, “We appreciate all stakeholders for collaborating and supporting the CSSPS process to this point. We continue to ask for your patience to ensure the academic calendar for SHS is implemented without hitches in order to get back to the pre-COVID academic calendar.”

This is a reiteration by the GES and comes after Parliament petitioned the Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum to postpone the opening date for Junior High School (JHS) graduates.

The concerns which were raised by the Minority were premised on the fact that the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates went live on November 28 and deprived parents and guardians of the requisite time to mobilise resources for their wards.

Additionally, they argued that students who were not placed by the CSSPS needed some time to undertake self-placement while teaching and non-teaching staff have had no break and therefore needed time to prepare for the arrival of the new students.