The Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced sweeping reforms in the education sector, including the restoration of 99 senior high schools from the double-track system to the traditional single-track this year.

In a statement, GES said the initiative forms part of broader measures to improve access, quality, and equity in education nationwide.

As part of the reforms, government has directed all districts to use the 2025 District Assemblies Common Fund to build new nursery, primary, and junior high schools, while stalled E-Block projects will also be revisited for completion.

On financing, the statement noted that GH¢1 billion has been paid into the Free Senior High School programme, GH¢2.9 billion released to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), and GH¢72.8 million used to clear capitation grant arrears. An additional GH¢895 million has also been allocated to the School Feeding Programme, with the per-child feeding budget increased.

Other payments include GH¢122.8 million for Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) registration, GH¢300 million under the “No Fee Stress” policy to support SHS graduates entering tertiary institutions, and disbursement of feeding grants for special needs schools. The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) practical fees have also been fully paid.

GES further announced reforms for teachers, including the migration of over 30,000 diploma teachers who upgraded their qualifications onto the Public Service salary scale. Teachers are now eligible for promotion to the rank of director, while the teacher licensure examination has been scrapped.

Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) have also been reactivated to strengthen school governance, and a free sanitary pad initiative has been launched to promote menstrual hygiene and reduce absenteeism among girls.

“These measures demonstrate government’s resolve to enhance quality, improve access, and support both students and teachers nationwide,” the statement concluded.

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says it is tightening measures to curb examination malpractice as the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) progresses.

During a monitoring tour of some examination centres, the Head of National Office at WAEC, Dr Rosemond Wilson, explained that the recent rise in reported cases was due to stricter enforcement and closer surveillance.

“One invigilator was in possession of a mobile phone, and invigilators are not supposed to take mobile phones to the examination hall. So we have taken the matter up and we will deal with it,” she said.

“Actually, the mobile phone had a write-up. It had some of our questions for the previous exams they have written, like Picture Making and English Orals. It had some of those questions on it and also answers to the questions.”

The invigilator’s phone was immediately seized, and WAEC has directed that a report be submitted on the matter.

She acknowledged that cases of malpractice appeared to be on the rise but said that WAEC had improved vigilance and cooperation with stakeholders.

“It is a national issue now. So we have called on all our stakeholders to help us to be able to overcome this canker that is now in the system. That is why we see a higher trend this time, because all the stakeholders have gotten involved, and we are going to track down this issue of examination malpractice so that we minimise it to the barest minimum,” she said.

She explained that WAEC was working closely with partners to ensure fairness and discipline during the exams.

“What we are doing is that we have monitors, security services, stakeholders like GES officials and our own officials. We are all over to go around and take proper inspection of the examinations being conducted and make sure that the invigilators and supervisors have instructed the students to adhere to the regulations of the exams.”

 

Dr Wilson also addressed concerns raised by parents and teachers following the release of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results. Some stakeholders had questioned the performance of candidates, but WAEC dismissed suggestions of any fault in the process.

“Actually, there’s no reason to this because the same curriculum was used. The same curriculum that we obtained from GES was used, and the questions were from the same syllabus.

"So there is no reason why they shouldn't perform well, but maybe because of the way they learned for the exams. Because we prepared the same standard marking scheme for them,” she explained.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced the opening of applications for the promotion of qualified teachers and officers to higher ranks within the service.

The promotion exercise covers four categories: Deputy Director, Assistant Director I, Assistant Director II, and Principal Superintendent. According to GES, applications are strictly open to serving teachers who meet the required criteria.

To qualify for promotion to Deputy Director, applicants must have been promoted to the rank of Assistant Director I in or before 2020 and must have been continuously at post since then, except for approved leave periods.

For Assistant Director I, applicants must have attained the rank of Assistant Director II in or before 2020 under the same conditions. Similarly, candidates for Assistant Director II must have been promoted to Principal Superintendent in or before 2020, while applicants for Principal Superintendent must have attained the rank of Senior Superintendent I in or before 2020.

Teachers who have completed an approved undergraduate degree will also be automatically placed at this level.

The GES further noted that teachers who intend to rely on master's or PhD degrees for their promotion must ensure the programme was part of the approved GES course of study.

Additionally, the certificate should not have been obtained before their last promotion, and only certificates acquired in or before 2022 will be accepted for promotions to Assistant Director I, Assistant Director II, and Deputy Director ranks.

GES advised applicants to submit their forms online through https://bit.ly/gespromotions2025 or by scanning the official QR code provided.

Each applicant must upload a passport-size photograph, their last promotion or appointment letter, and their highest academic certificate. All supporting documents, except the photograph, must be uploaded in PDF format and should be clear and legible.

The application window opens on Monday, August 18, and closes on Friday, September 5.

To download Nomination form, click the link below;  

 

 https://ghanateachers.com/news-media/downloads/category/10-election-2025-2026-publications?download=35:january-2026-nomination-forms-for-election-of-national-officers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prof Eliasu Mumuni, Senior Lecturer at the University for Development Studies (UDS), has called for improved welfare for journalists as a means of enhancing professionalism and raising journalistic standards in the country.

He stressed that proper remuneration and better working conditions were critical for journalists to operate independently, ethically, and without undue influence.

Prof. Mumuni who is also President of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) UDS Chapter, made the appeal at ‘The Journalism Hangout’ in Tamale, organised by Investigative Journalist Mr Emmanuel Dogbevi for media practitioners in the Northern Region.

The event, the third in the series held in the country’s northern cities of Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region and Walewale in the North East Region brought together a cross section of journalists from both private and public media organisations to discuss ways of improving professionalism in the media, strengthening fact-checking, and harnessing modern tools, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), to raise the standard of journalism.

Participants explored also how to tap into funding opportunities, foster collaboration for impactful stories, and implement strategies to enhance journalists’ welfare and professionalism through capacity building.

Mr Dogbevi who facilitated the discussion, said journalism was not merely about publications but also about the skill, dedication and effort required to uncover the truth, and urged journalists to always doubt information until it could be independently verified, warning against the dangers of becoming conduits for misinformation.

“Always verify your information so that you do not become a mouthpiece for misinformation,” he cautioned.

He noted that journalism was under threat from fake news spread by some social media influencers and bloggers and called for a redefinition of the profession based on accuracy, fact-checking, and integrity.

The session emphasised the importance of ethical standards, responsible use of technology, and advocacy for policies that protect journalists’ welfare and the credibility of the profession.

Participants commended Mr Dogbevi for the initiative, describing it as a valuable platform for career development and mentorship, and urged that the session should be organised regularly.

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and Ulster University in Northern Ireland, are working on a fire safety syllabus for basic schools. 

The Acting Chief Fire Officer (CFO), Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sapong, said the initiative is to help the children learn fire safety in school, grow up to understand the importance of being safe, and become ambassadors for safety in their homes and communities.

She said this at the Ghana National Fire Service's National Safety Awards 2025, held at the Headquarters, where the Minister for Interior, Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka, together with some service personnel, civilians, and corporate institutions, were honoured for their contributions towards fire safety promotion.

CFO Sapong said, "The fire safety syllabus will help shape the country for a safer future. I commend the team putting up the syllabus, but let us also remember to teach our children how to be safe. Let us take care in our homes, schools, and workplaces. Let us make safety a habit for everyone."

She said the GNFS wore many hats as safety officers, teachers, rescuers, investigators, and partners in building a safer country; however, they could not do it alone and needed the public's support and collaboration.

"We are asking corporate Ghana and individuals to support us, not just with words but with actions to build the capacity of our workforce to serve them better, get better equipment and logistics to reach more communities with the gospel of safety," she said. 

The Acting CFO said the National Safety Awards were about building a lasting culture where every Ghanaian, whether young or old, embraced safety as a way of life in homes, schools, workplaces, roads, farms, markets, and public spaces.

She said GNFS personnel had, through their hard work and dedication, issued out over 41,000 fire certificates, given out over 9000 fire permits and carried out 32,626 fire safety audits and inspections in the past two years.

They had also held over 33,000 public education sessions across the country and helped save over GH₵354 million worth of properties from fire ruins in the past two years.

In the first half of 2025, GNFS recorded 3,595 fire cases compared to 3,576 during the same period in 2024, a marginal increase of 0.53% and that the GNFS attributed to the rise in fire cases because people did not follow basic fire safety rules coupled with bad weather in the first quarter of 2025. 

Project Lead for the National Safety Awards 2025, Joseph T. D. Narnor Jnr, said the awards were not given on any financial commitments but true recognition of those who demonstrated commitment to promoting fire safety. 

He said they dreamed of a Ghana where every child knew “safety first” before they played, every community trained responders - not just in uniform but in heart and skill and a Ghana where safety would not be an afterthought but the foundation of how citizens lived, worked, and grew.

The Minister was honoured with a citation and plaque for his support of fire safety initiatives. 

Other honourees included Chief Fire Officer (CFO) (Rtd) Julius Aalebkure Kuunor, Acting CFO Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sapong, DCFO (Rtd) Paa Kwasi Adu Twum, DCFO (Rtd) Tonny K Lawoe, DCFO (Rtd) Kwame Kwateng, DOI Michael Ato Korsah and GNA's Chief Reporter, Samira Larbi. Corporate institutions were also recognised.