Executive Director for Africa Education Watch , Mr. Kofi Asare has stated that the Ghana Education Service , prior to its release of SHS academic calendar , should have assured parents and guardians of the measures put in place to accomodate the 400,000 SHS 3 students.
He stated that the postponement of the reopening date of final year students at the senior high level , according to the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) was as a result of inadequate capacity to accommodate the large number of students.
” At the time there were two groups already in school, the full SHS 1 group and one SHS 2 group. Some SHS 1 students were already sleeping on the floor. Although one track will be sent home as a result of the final year students reopening, the accommodation capacity is still not enough.”
He further mentioned that Ghana Education Service (GES) is responble in rendering account to parents pointing out to them specific measures that have been put in place to accommodate their wards.
” My problem with GES is how accountability has been handled with thee constantly changing school calendar. GES should be accountable to us by updating parents on the specific measures it had put in place since April 5 to increase accommodation capacity in the double track schools.”
Speaking to Sammy Eshun on the Happy Morning Show, he stated although the academic calendar is unpredictable, it is however important to build trust and confidentiality between GES and stakeholders of the educational system.
By Belinda Baaba Baidoo
