Ranking Member of Parliament’s Education Committee, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, has urged the Ghana Education Service (GES) to extend the February 20 reporting date for freshmen entering Senior High Schools across the country.
The Akatsi North legislator argued that if the government goes ahead with such a short reporting notice for freshers, parents will be financially stressed because the GES has yet to release school placements for 2022 BECE graduates.
Mr. Nortsu-Kotoe told Eyewitness News that the February 20 date will further disrupt the already stressed academic calendar, which the GES is attempting to correct by returning it to the usual September to July period from the current January to December.
“It is going to affect the calendar because even February 20 is not feasible, and I am of the view that the reopening date should be on March 1.”
He stated that because student prospectuses differ between schools, parents should be given ample time to raise the necessary funds to purchase them.
“What you will buy and need to take to the school depends on the school the student will be attending, and I will advise that time should be given to give parents some relief.”
He also urged the government to take action to address the accommodation issues confronting senior high schools across the country, allowing the double-track system to be phased out.
“Every year, numbers increase, so it should be the priority of authorities to plan ahead and complete all projects on our various school campuses. We should give GETFund enough funds to complete all these uncompleted projects to eliminate the double-track system.”
Mr. Nortsu-Kotoe was commenting on the Ghana Education Service’s decision to return to the old academic calendar, which had been adjusted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.