Wisdom Koudjo Klu: Educationist Advocates Review of GES Mid-Term Break Schedule
Educationist, Wisdom Koudjo Klu has called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to review the scheduling of mid-term breaks in basic schools, arguing that breaks fixed at the beginning of the week often contribute to absenteeism and the loss of valuable instructional time.
His comments follow the announcement by GES that public basic schools across the country will observe a mid-term break on Monday, June 8, and Tuesday, June 9, 2026.
According to Mr. Klu, although mid-term breaks are necessary for the well-being of both learners and teachers, the choice of Monday and Tuesday as break days may have unintended consequences for teaching and learning.
He noted that when a break is scheduled at the start of the week, many learners are unlikely to attend school during the final days leading up to it, particularly from Wednesday to Friday.
“Experience has shown that once learners and parents become aware of a Monday-Tuesday break, attendance often declines significantly during the preceding Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. This creates a situation where schools are officially in session, but classrooms are only partially occupied,” he said.
Mr. Klu explained that reduced attendance makes it difficult for teachers to introduce new concepts, conduct assessments, or complete planned lessons. In many cases, teachers are forced to revisit lessons after the break to accommodate absent learners, thereby affecting curriculum coverage.
He further observed that the situation presents management challenges for school leaders who must continue to organize teaching and learning activities despite low attendance levels.
To address the issue, the educationist proposed that future mid-term breaks be scheduled on Thursdays and Fridays, allowing them to merge naturally with the weekend.
“Such an arrangement would likely reduce absenteeism, preserve instructional time, and enable schools to maintain normal academic activities throughout the week,” he stated.
Mr. Klu also urged the Ghana Education Service to ensure that all mid-term breaks are clearly reflected in the national academic calendar released at the beginning of each academic year.
He argued that incorporating these breaks into the official calendar would enable head teachers, teachers, and parents to plan lessons, assessments, co-curricular activities, and other school programmes more effectively.
“Predictability is essential in education. When schools have a complete academic calendar from the outset, planning becomes easier and instructional programmes can be implemented more efficiently,” he added.
Mr. Klu emphasized that his comments were intended as a contribution to ongoing discussions on improving educational delivery and school management across the country.
He expressed hope that future reviews of the academic calendar would take into account the practical realities faced by schools, with the ultimate goal of protecting teaching and learning time while supporting the welfare of learners and teachers.
SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh
