GES Scraps November Mid-Term Break For Basic Schools to Make Up for Lost Teaching Hours

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has officially announced the cancellation of the upcoming November mid-term break for all basic schools across Ghana.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has issued an official notice confirming that the two-day mid-term break originally scheduled for Thursday, November 5, and Friday, November 6, 2026, for basic schools is officially cancelled.

In an official directive signed by Daniel Fenyi of GES Headquarters, the Service explained that the measure is part of efforts to recover instructional hours lost during the recent industrial action.

Under this directive, all public basic schools are expected to remain open and conduct normal academic activities throughout both days, ensuring pupils and teachers stay in the classroom to keep pace with the curriculum.

The primary catalyst for this schedule adjustment was a nationwide teacher strike initiated earlier in the term.

On September 25, 2026, three prominent pre-tertiary teacher unions—the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG)—declared industrial action.

The strike was triggered by unresolved grievances regarding teachers' promotions, unpaid salary arrears, statutory allowances, and overall conditions of service.

The resulting walkout temporarily halted teaching and learning across public basic schools, creating a cumulative deficit in instructional time.

Following high-level engagements involving the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, and the Council of State, an agreement was reached on clear timelines to address the teachers' demands.

Consequently, the teacher unions suspended the strike on October 9, 2026, and educators returned to classrooms on Monday, October 12, 2026.

To make up for the lost contact hours and minimize the impact on student performance, the GES determined that keeping basic schools open during the November 5 and 6 dates is necessary.

The GES has formally advised teachers, students, parents, guardians, and the general public to take note of the change and be guided accordingly as normal academic work continues without interruption.

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The cancellation of the November mid-term break highlights the commitment of the Ghana Education Service to safeguard instructional time and support basic school pupils in catching up on missed lessons.

By utilizing November 5 and 6 for regular school activities, educators and students can maintain academic progress after the disruptions caused by the September strike action.