Ghana Secondary School Education System to extend to 6 years by
Ghana Secondary School Education System to extend to 6 years by
According to Ghana’s Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum the Secondary School education system in Ghana will be moved from 3yrs to 6yrs.
In order to effectively transform secondary education in Ghana with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) inclusion, the educational system needs to increase to standard.
This was revealed after he assured Ghanaians that the government is extremely committed to revamping STEM education in Ghana.
Dr. Adutwum also stated that after the county education system is implemented, the number of high schools in Ghana will be decreased from 13,000 to around 2,500.
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To be precised about the outcome in the proposed increase in the secondary educational system, Dr. Adutwum in a press conference at Accra on Tuesday, Dec. 14, Dr. stated “In 2023 when we open those schools you are going to see how we are going to provide six years of quality secondary education and not three years plus some three years old middle school-led education that we call high school”.
About Ghana’s Basic Educational System
Being colonized by the Britain in the early 20th century, Ghana’s school system is structured after the British educational system, but underwent a number of changes over the past 60 years. In the early 1974, the system was structured into six years of elementary education and four years of secondary education.
Historically, the select few students who went on to higher education then had to complete a two-year UK-based advanced level (A-level) university-preparatory curriculum before enrolling in three-year undergraduate programs (6-4-2-3), respectively.
Presently, the system is split into six years of elementary education and three years of junior secondary education also referred to as basic education, followed by three of senior secondary education and standard four-year university programs. Basic education until grade nine is compulsory for all Ghanaian children, but senior secondary education is not.
The operational System of Senior Secondary Education in Ghana
How exactly does secondary school operate in Ghana? Graduates from basic education who intend to continue education get assigned to senior secondary schools based on a “computerized school selection placement system”.
Like Nigeria admission, in Ghana, admission into the higher institution is usually very competitive and only good students have the option to choose the school they wish to attend.
The Senior secondary school graduation examinations are conducted by the West African Examination Council.
Since 2007, Ghana has switched from the national senior secondary school certificate examination to the pan-regional West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Ghanaians’ eligible candidates are registered to sit for the exams in May/June by the relevant school authorities, but private candidates may also register independently (for a separate examination in October/November).
Admission to Higher Education in Ghana
The baseline admission requirements for all universities in Ghana are set by the National Accreditation Board, NAB.
All candidates must have a minimum grade of 6 in at least three WASSCE core subjects, as well as in three elective WASSCE subjects. Given the surging demand for higher education in Ghana, admission is highly competitive, especially at top public universities.
Some institutions may require that applicants have completed elective courses related to their intended major and may have additional entrance examinations
Admission requirements at polytechnics and private HEIs in Ghana
The admission requirements in this sector tends to be lower than at public universities. In fact, there have been repeated claims that private universities are admitting unqualified students.
Recall how Ghana’s National Accreditation Board in 2011 alleged that private universities had admitted hundreds, if not thousands of students that did not meet the mandatory minimum requirements and threatened to restrict these students from graduating in the defaults institution who have refused to follow the normal standard procedure and requirements for admission in the school.
