The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has admonished the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to restore the academic calendar for both the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to its pre-COVID schedule.

Speaking at the WAEC Distinction Awards ceremony today, Mr Iddrisu emphasised the importance of returning to the original timetable disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am using this platform to reiterate our strong desire to see the restoration of the academic calendar for both the BECE and WASSCE to its pre-COVID schedule,” he said.

The Minister expressed concern that the ongoing changes to the academic calendar have negatively impacted the smooth transition of students from one level of education to the next.

“We are not particularly happy that since COVID, our academic calendar has affected the seamless transition of students to the next layer of their career development,” Mr Iddrisu stated.

He called on WAEC and GES to collaborate closely to develop a calendar that aligns with the broader West African education system, ensuring consistency across the region.

“GES and WAEC must work together to restore an acceptable calendar, one that is in sync with the rest of the West African system,” he urged.

His call highlights the urgent need to return to a stable and predictable academic calendar, ensuring students across Ghana and the West African region can progress smoothly in their educational journeys without unnecessary delays or disruptions.