Educationist predicts change in academic calendar over coronavirus pandemic

An Educationist, Augustine Owusu Appiah, has said the academic calendar for all schools and universities is likely to change due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

President Nana Akufo-Addo directed that from Monday, June 15, 2020, all schools and universities should re-open to allow for final-year junior high, senior high and university students to resume classes ahead of the conduct of their respective exit examinations.

“Indeed, final year university students are to report to their universities on 15th June; final year senior high school (SHS 3) students, together with SHS 2 Gold Track students, on 22nd June; and final-year junior high school (JHS 3) students on 29th June. JHS 3 classes will comprise a maximum of thirty (30) students; SHS classes a maximum of twenty-five (25) students, and University lectures will take place with half the class sizes,” he said

Subsequently, the Minister for Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh at a press conference gave further details with respect to the President’s directive.

He revealed that ministry is in consultation with the Ghana office of WAEC, to set the papers specific to the country.

He said the finalists will study for 6 weeks before the commencement of the exams.

Speaking to host of Atinka FM’s AM Drive, Ekourba Gyasi, Augustine Owusu Appiah, said the usual month which begins the academic year, which is September especially for the JHS and SHS levels, is likely to move to January looking at the current situation.

According to him, the country is not in normal times and that the academic year can return to normalcy after 3 years.

Asked if he would recommend the usage of mobile phones for SHS students to aid virtual learning, the educationist explained that the teachers cannot guarantee that students will use the phones purposely for learning when it’s approved.