The General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Thomas Tanko Musah, has called for calm and urged students to embrace peace following the temporary closure of Zuarungu Senior High School (SHS) in the Upper East Region.

The Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, ordered the immediate closure of the school on Sunday, July 20, after violent clashes broke out between Frafra and Kusasi students over an alleged mobile phone theft.

Describing the incident as “unfortunate,” the Minister assured that anyone found culpable would face the full force of the law, adding that no student involved in criminal activity would be spared.

Reacting to the development, Mr. Musah in an interview with Adom News expressed deep disappointment over the involvement of students—who, he said, should be ambassadors of peace—in such acts of violence.

“The boarding school system is meant to help students learn to live peacefully with others and build healthy relationships,” he stated. “It is saddening that such regrettable incidents are happening in our schools,” he said.

GNAT is urging all stakeholders, including school authorities, parents, and community leaders, to support efforts aimed at restoring peace and ensuring that such disturbances do not occur again.

By Yussif Ibrahim

A total of 305 teachers from four regions have undergone professional development training under the GNAT/CTF/FCE Teaching Together Project, a collaborative initiative between the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) and the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF).

The initiative, which focuses on peer learning, is anchored on the principle of “teachers teaching teachers to teach.”

It aims to strengthen educators’ pedagogical skills, knowledge, and classroom practices while promoting knowledge-sharing among peers.

This cohort marks the first group of over 600 teachers scheduled for training under the project, with the second batch expected to begin their session on Monday, July 21.

Key thematic areas covered during the training included inclusive education, technology education, gender and culture, and classroom organisation and management.

Mr. Moses Amadu Baman Snr., GNAT’s Deputy General Secretary in charge of Education and Professional Development, speaking at the closing ceremony, said the training was designed to equip teachers, especially those in deprived and underserved areas with 21st-century teaching competencies.

He emphasised GNAT’s commitment to continuous professional development, stating that as a professional teacher union, GNAT believes in lifelong learning to ensure its members remain relevant in an ever-evolving global teaching environment.

He added that GNAT, as a resilient, proactive and results-driven union, is determined not to fail the Ghanaian society which has entrusted its future in the hands of teachers.

Rev. Isaac Owusu, President of GNAT, also underscored the importance of teacher professionalism, a core value embedded in the Association’s constitution.

He reiterated the national leadership’s unwavering commitment to the continuous training and development of members.

He urged participants to apply the knowledge acquired during the training in their classrooms to ensure improved learning outcomes for students.

Rev. Owusu also called on members to take active interest in the activities of the Association, stressing that their funds directly support such developmental programmes.

He reminded them that GNAT, regardless of any changes in leadership, would always remain the vehicle through which their welfare and working conditions are advanced.

Teacher unions have been urged to drive educational policies to ensure their effective implementation in the country.

This is because teachers know the realities of the educational system, and therefore, would be able to tell the government where there are gaps.

The Director of Research of the GNAT Institute of Research and Industrial Relations Studies, Dr Linus Linnaeus Tannor, said: ‘’We should not wait for the government to rather come up with these policies and we only react to them".  

The director also said that policy makers must move from being just regulators to visionaries, while the role of unions must also move from advocates to architects.

He was speaking at the Seventh Quadrennial and Regional Conference of GNAT in Accra yesterday.

The three-day conference is on the theme: “Educating an African fit for the 21st Century: The role of policy makers and the unions in Ghana”.

Training

Dr Tannor called on policy makers to prioritise long term investment in teacher training for the digital age to equip them with the requisite knowledge to be able to deliver quality education to learners.

He also urged teacher unions to lead the future by influencing policy, shaping professional development, and being champions of education, and not only defenders of welfare issues.

“We, as teachers, are not just transmitters of knowledge. We as teachers are shapers of values — the values that the 21st Century Africa needs.

“We, as teachers, are the builders of minds, critical thinking and creativity, and we as teachers are the architects of national identity.

“But let's not pretend. Our educational system is facing deep cracks and you can see the foundation cracking.

Deep cracks of what, disillusionment in terms of low morale of teachers, under-investment and outdated relevance,” the director said.

Collaboration

Dr Tannor further said that unless teachers, unions and policy makers acted together, “we risk collapse”.

Being fit for the 21st Century, he said, was not just about tools and gadgets, but about preparing learners to solve problems “we have not yet seen, it's about using technologies that we have not yet imagined and it's about preparing learners for jobs that are not yet existing”.

“Academic brilliance is not just about books. The 21st Century learner is very curious and creative — they want systems that will allow them to explore, they want policies that will allow lifelong learning.

The 21st Century child is digitally affluent and uses text technically,” the director added.

Support

The President of GNAT, Rev. Isaac Owusu, called on members to rally support for the leadership in the association to champion their cause.

He said they must be proud of themselves as GNAT members.

For her part, the Greater Accra Regional Chairperson of GNAT, Sarah Oye Owiredu, said the region had been able to hold itself together in spite of challenges, adding that there was increase in membership.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has officially released the academic calendar for the upcoming 2025/2026 academic year, providing a clear roadmap for Kindergarten (KG), Primary, and Junior High Schools (JHS) across the nation.

The detailed schedule aims to ensure academic stability and provide ample preparation time for students, especially those sitting for the crucial Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

In a press statement signed by Daniel Fenyi, the recently appointed Head of Public Relations at GES, the education body outlined the comprehensive dates for reopening, vacations, mid-term breaks, and examination periods for all three terms.

Mr. Fenyi's appointment was lauded for its potential to improve transparency and stakeholder engagement, particularly given past concerns about communication gaps within the GES.

The first term of the 2025/2026 academic year is set to commence on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, and will conclude on Thursday, December 18, 2025.

Students and teachers will then enjoy a Christmas vacation from Friday, December 19, 2025, to Tuesday, January 7, 2026. A mid-term break is also scheduled for October 31 to November 3, 2025, offering a brief respite during the demanding term.

The second term will pick up on Wednesday, January 8, 2026, running until Wednesday, April 1, 2026. This will be followed by an Easter vacation from April 2 to April 20, 2026. The third and final term of the academic year is slated to begin on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, and will officially end on Thursday, July 23, 2026.

BECE timelines and educational context

A critical highlight of the newly released calendar is the scheduling of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

This pivotal examination, which marks the completion of junior high school and serves as the gateway to senior high schools and technical institutes in Ghana, has been set to take place from Monday, May 4 to Monday, May 11, 2026.

This timing ensures that candidates receive ample preparation time following the conclusion of their second term, a factor often emphasised by educators and parents.

Ghana's education system operates on a 6-3-3-4 structure (6 years primary, 3 years JHS, 3 years SHS, 4 years university).

The BECE is administered by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), and its results are crucial for student progression to the senior high school level, where over 375,000 students typically take the exam annually across core and elective subjects.

Historically, BECE performance, especially in English and Mathematics, has been a focus area for educational reforms, with calls for improved foundational learning outcomes.

The new calendar's aim to provide sufficient preparation time implicitly acknowledges the importance of these outcomes.

The GES has further clarified that all public holidays falling within the academic calendar will be duly observed, and a two-day mid-term break will be implemented in each term to provide necessary rest for both students and teachers.

This structured approach is part of the Service's broader commitment to optimising contact hours and ensuring a conducive learning environment.

In its statement, the GES extended appreciation to all stakeholders – including school administrators, teachers, parents, and students – for their collective efforts and dedication throughout the current academic year, which officially concludes on Thursday, July 24, 2025.

The Service urged everyone involved in the education sector to note the new calendar and make all necessary preparations to guarantee a productive 2025/2026 academic year.

This release comes as Ghana's education sector undergoes various strategic reforms. In February 2025, a new Senior High School curriculum began rolling out, emphasising 21st-century skills, critical thinking, and Ghanaian values.

Additionally, Parliament approved a GH¢31 billion education budget for 2025, with plans to waive academic fees for all first-year students in public tertiary institutions, highlighting a comprehensive drive to enhance access and quality across all levels of Ghana's education system.

The timely release of the academic calendar underscores GES's reaffirmed commitment to maintaining academic stability and providing timely information for the effective operation of schools in line with national education goals.

The National President of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Rev. Isaac Owusu, has expressed his heartfelt support to all members as the association kicks off its local conferences nationwide.

The conferences, which began on March 10, 2025, will run until March 31, 2025, providing vital platforms for discussion, decision-making, and leadership elections within GNAT.

In his message, Rev. Owusu, speaking on behalf of the National Officers of GNAT, conveyed his enthusiasm for the ongoing conferences.

He extended his warmest wishes to all the local branches of the association across Ghana, encouraging them to have successful and productive events.

“I wish all the locals in Ghana a successful conference and offer the best of luck to all candidates vying for various positions within the association,” Rev. Owusu stated.

He assured members that the national leadership remains committed to advancing GNAT’s mission and ensuring the association continues to thrive.

The local conferences are a significant aspect of GNAT’s operations, offering members an opportunity to engage, exchange ideas, and elect new leaders who will help shape the future direction of the association.