GES Releases 2025/2026 Academic Calendar for SHS Schools

Attention all parents, guardians, and students! The Ghana Education Service (GES) has officially released the academic calendar for the 2025/2026 school year for all public Senior High Schools (SHSs).

This crucial announcement, made in a circular signed by Mr. Prince C. Agyemang-Duah, Director of the Schools and Instructions Division, provides the definitive schedule for the entire academic year, including reopening dates, vacation periods, and examination timelines.

The calendar indicates that the academic year will commence for First-Year students on Saturday, October 18, 2025.

To help you plan ahead, here is a quick overview of the key dates:

Official Key Dates for Each SHS Level

The calendar is structured differently for each year group. Please note the specific reporting dates to avoid any confusion.

 For SHS 1 (First-Year Students)

• Reporting/Reopening Date: Saturday, 18th October 2025

• First Semester: 18th Oct. 2025 – 30th Jan. 2026

  • (Includes 9 weeks of onsite learning and 4 weeks of offsite studies)

• Vacation Break: 31st Jan. – 15th Mar. 2026

• Second Semester: 16th Mar. – 12th June 2026

• Final Term: 3rd July – 4th Sept. 2026

 For SHS 2 (Second-Year Students)

• Reopening Date: Monday, 5th January 2026

• First Semester: 5th Jan. – 17th Apr. 2026

  • (Includes 5 weeks of online studies)

• Vacation Break: 18th Apr. – 17th May 2026

• Second Semester: 18th May – 4th Sept. 2026

For SHS 3 (Final-Year Students)

• First Semester: 27th Oct. 2025 – 13th Feb. 2026

• Christmas Break: 20th Dec. 2025 – 4th Jan. 2026

• Second Semester: 14th Feb. – 21st June 2026

• 2026 WASSCE Period: 20th April – 20th June 2026

 Notable Highlights and Important Information

• WASSCE 2026: The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates is officially scheduled to begin on April 20, 2026, and run through June 20, 2026.

• Christmas Break: All students will enjoy a holiday from December 20, 2025, to January 4, 2026.

• Next Academic Year: The proposed start date for the 2026/2027 academic year is September 11, 2026.

• Smooth Operations: The GES has stated that adequate "travel and transition periods" have been included in the calendar to ensure the smooth movement of students and staff, minimizing disruptions to academic activities.

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A Note on Compliance

The GES circular emphasizes that Regional Directors of Education must ensure strict compliance with this calendar. This is to maintain uniformity and consistency across all second-cycle institutions in Ghana, ensuring every student is on the same page.

With this calendar now public, families can begin planning vacations, travels, and other activities around these important dates. For our final-year students, the WASSCE dates are now clear, marking the countdown to a significant milestone in their academic journey.

We encourage all students and parents to bookmark this page or save the calendar image for easy reference throughout the year.