SHS Now 2 Semesters

First term, second term, third term―all these would be history as government in yet another edge-cutting move, shifts from the usual three school terms to a two-semester system.

The Education Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh who made this stunning revelation when he met with the press yesterday, said the new system would begin in the coming academic year― September 2018―bringing to an abrupt end the over 70-year old educational cycle.

“The GES from the beginning of the 2018/2019 academic year will introduce the semester system in all senior high schools. All senior high schools henceforth will run the semester system. Even when we build all the infrastructures, all SHSs will be semester system,” he said.

The introduction of the semester system is expected to roll out simultaneously with the much-anticipated double track school which according to the education minister would be temporary.

Double Tracking Temporal

“I want to repeat that the double track calendar that we are adopting is a temporary intervention until we can get enough classroom blocks, enough accommodation, enough dormitories to satisfy the Ghanaian child,” Dr. Prempeh noted.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has indicated that not all senior high schools will be on the double track calendar.

According to the minister, only 400 out of 690 schools would be obliged to enrol on the double intake system, adding that, “This measure (double track) is to solve an acute problem and to make sure that no qualified Ghanaian child is left out.”

Based on last year’s enrolment, the government projects that enrolment figures for 2018 would be at 472,730 against available seats of 290,737― leaving a gap of 181, 993.

But the minister says the Double track would help in ensuring that the existing gap is filled.

More On Double Track

Dr. Prempeh explains that the double track system will divide the entire student body and staff into two different tracks. So, while one track is in school, the other would be holidaying.

He explained: “SHS three students would do two semesters…the SHS three students are a 1000…the first group will come in and would have a semester of 81 teaching days after that they would go on vacation and they would come back and finish the second semester.

“The SHS two also comprising 1000 students, will come for the first semester―81 days and would go on vacation with the third years and then would come back to continue.”

Dr Prempeh continued: “For the SHS one, they would be slit into two, 750 will come as the first group called the Track Green for 41 days and then when they have a break, the Track Gold will come to school and do 81 days stretch.

“By the time the Track Gold does half of the semester, the SHS three and SHS two would be on vacation and then Track Green will come back to school and complete the semester.”

Every school is expected to have at most, a capacity of 3000 students with each class year absorbing at most 1000 students.

By: Grace Ablewor Sogbey/ [email protected]