GES maintains JHSs & SHSs reopening dates amid CHASS concerns
The Ghana Education Service (GES) management says that the January 2025 reopening dates for students in various government Junior and Senior High Schools across the country remain unchanged for this academic year.
In a statement sighted by Pretertiary.com, it said “The Management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) wishes to remind students, staff, parents, and the general public that the 2024/25 academic calendar has not changed.
As previously announced. Senior High School (SHS) students are expected to report back to school on January 3, 2025, while primary and Junior High Schools (JHSs) will reopen on January 8, 2025.
Meanwhile, the Management of Ghana Education Service is engaging the Ministry for a speedy resolution of concerns raised by the leadership of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS).
We kindly request that all stakeholders take note of these dates and make necessary arrangements accordingly.”
The Ghana Education Service comes after the Conference of Heads of Assisted Senior High Schools (CHASS) urged the GES management to reconsider reopening schools on January 3, 2025, due to unresolved financial issues.
The Conference of Heads of Assisted Senior High Schools late last year ahead of this year’s academic year school reopening demanded the payment of outstanding funds to second-cycle schools across the country.
The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools acknowledged that the government though has released some funds to certain second-cycle schools, but said the disbursements have not fully addressed critical issues.
“While we acknowledge some recent disbursements of funds to schools, we regret to inform you that this release has not fully resolved the critical financial needs of our institutions,” the Conference said in a statement.
CHASS pointed out that some of the funds the government owes to schools include arrears for perishable items, funds for day schools and single-track schools, funds for transporting food items from distribution centres to schools, funds for essential utility bills, and recurrent funding for the schools.
Describing the situation as a threat to the smooth operations of schools, CHASS said “These funds are critical for the successful reopening of schools in January,” adding that “without these resources, school heads will face insurmountable challenges in managing daily operations.”
The Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools statement further warned that the government’s failure to pay the funds would result in poor management of the nation’s secondary institutions and negatively impact students’ well-being.
The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) also threatened to take action regarding the reopening of government second-cycle schools for the next academic year in early January 2025.
“We will advise against the resumption of the academic calendar,” the Assisted Heads of Secondary Schools press statement dated Friday, December 21, 2024 concluded, “should the government fail to disburse the funds.”
relatedly, the National Secretary of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), Baro Primus says that all regional branches have been directed to notify parents of a potential delay through Parent Associations.
In a press statement, the Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools National Secretary warned that any member who defies the directive would face sanctions for undermining their collective position.
“This is now the fourth appeal to education authorities over the unpaid arrears, with previous letters sent in August, November, and December 2024,” the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools noted in a press release.
