New academic calendar in the best interest of all students – MoE
Citing economic challenges posed by the new academic calendar, a deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Ernest Akosah says the 2023 academic year calendar is in the best interest of students and parents in the country.
In an interview with Kumasi-based Opemsuo radio station monitored by AcademicWeek, he said the nature of the new academic calendar is a result of the outbreak of coronavirus that halted academic activities for almost two years.
“Countries under the West African Examination Council (WAEC) have adjusted their academic calendar after COVID-19. There is, therefore, the need for Ghana to catch up,” the deputy Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ministry said.
Asked if parents were sensitized on the academic calendar before its implementation since schools now have shorter vacations, Mr Akosah said no official sensitization was made by the Ministry of Education or its related agencies.
Commenting on claims the Ministry in Charge of Education (MoE) has directed all final-year Junior High School students to be in boarding houses amid the 2023 BECE, he said no such directive has been issued by his outfit.
“I am not aware of any such policy requiring JHS 3 students to be in the boarding house. I believe it is an arrangement made at the PTA level because they believe it will help the children pass,” the Education Ministry official told Opemsuo.
In another story, the Government of Ghana (GoG) through the Minister for Education and Bosomtwe Member of Parliament Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has appointed Mrs Mamle Andrews new Chief Director of the Ministry of Education.
“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs Mamle Andrews as the new Chief Director of the Ministry of Education,” the Education Minister and Bosomtwe Member of Parliament said in a post sighted by AcademicWeek.com.
Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum in the social media post added that “Mrs Andrews brings with her a wealth of experience having worked in various institutions in the country such as the Ministry of Information and some others.”
He expressed confidence that the newly appointed Chief Director of the Ministry of Education’s leadership and expertise will help to strengthen the education sector and improve the quality of education in the country.
Prior to her appointment as the Ministry of Education’s new Chief Director by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Mrs Mamle Andrews served as the bureaucratic head of the Ministry of Information as well as it’s Chief Director.
