The Reason Behind Basic Schools Having a 9-day Vacation for the First Term
It may surprise you to learn that all public basic schools in Ghana are set to have just a 9-day first-term vacation.
This academic year, the academic calendar for both basic schools and SHS will end on September 15th, 2023, reverting to the original pre-pandemic vacation dates of August/September.
The Ghana Education Service is working hard to restore the original academic calendar, which has been disrupted by the pandemic. Basic school students will only have a 9-day break, beginning on Saturday, March 25th, 2023, and ending on Sunday, April 2nd, 2023.
The second term will begin on April 3rd, 2023, and run until June 15th, 2023. The break will be from June 16th, 2023 to June 26th, 2023, and the third term will run from June 27th, 2023 to September 14th, 2023.
As the BECE draws closer, JHS 3 pupils have been urged to focus more on their studies.
WAEC has announced that the portal for registration will officially open on Monday, March 27th, 2023, and close on Friday, April 28th, 2023. It is crucial that all candidates ensure their bio data is accurately captured and that they are registered for the correct subjects.
School authorities are reminded to ensure that candidates are registered for the appropriate Ghanaian Language and Basic Design Technology options. Special arrangements will be made for candidates with special educational needs, as with the WASSCE (SC).
The 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) is scheduled to commence on Monday, 7th August, 2023 and end on Friday, 11th August, 2023. This important examination will take place within this specified period, and students are encouraged to prepare and participate actively.
Compared to previous years, the BECE for this year will be written earlier. In 2022, candidates sat for the exam from 17th October to 21st October. Aspiring candidates should be aware that the West African Examination Council (WAEC) has not yet released the official timetable and examination dates. Therefore, it is important to stay alert and watch out for updates from WAEC regarding the BECE.
About the Reopening Date for All Basic Schools
Next week, all basic schools will close for the holidays. Be sure to check the reopening date with your school’s administration to avoid any confusion.
It is essential to note that the 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) scheduled for August will be the last exam for students using the old curriculum. Beginning in 2024, the standard base curriculum will be implemented for the examination.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has issued directives to all head teachers, emphasizing that no student who was in form two at the end of the 2022 academic year should be held back, as doing so would be detrimental to their progress.
Expected Timetable for BECE
Please find below the expected timetable for the 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), based on the previous year’s schedule. It’s important to note that the exact dates on which the various papers will be written have not yet been officially released by the West African Examination Council (WAEC).
Monday, 7th August, 2023
- 020/2 Social Studies 2 (Essay) 1 hour 9.00 a.m. – 10.00 a.m.
- 020/1 Social Studies 1 (Objective) 45 minutes 10.00 a.m. – 10.45 a.m.
- 070/2 Information and Communication Technology 2 (Essay) 1 hour 1.00 p.m. – 2.00 p.m.
- 070/1 Information and Communication Technology 1 (Objective) 45 minutes 2.00 p.m. – 2.45 p.m.
Tuesday, 8th August, 2023
- 030/2 Mathematics 2 (Essay) 1 hour 15 minutes 9.00 a.m. – 10.15 a.m.
- 030/1 Mathematics 1 (Objective) 45 minutes 10.15 a.m. – 11.00 a.m.
- 053/2-055/2 Basic Design and Technology 2 (Essay) 1 hour 15 minutes 1.00 p.m. – 2.15 p.m.
- 053/1-055/1 Basic Design and Technology 1 (Objective) 40 minutes 2.15 p.m. – 2.55 p.m.
Wednesday, 9th August, 2023
- 001/2 English Language 2 (Essay) 1 hour 9.00 a.m. – 10.00 a.m.
- 001/1 English Language 1 (Objective) 1 hour 10.00 a.m. – 11.00 a.m.
- 022/2 Religious and Moral Education 2 (Essay) 1 hour 1.00 p.m. – 2.00 p.m.
- 022/1 Religious and Moral Education 1 (Objective) 45 minutes 2.00 p.m. – 2.45 p.m.
Thursday, 10th August, 2023
- 033/2 Integrated Science 2 (Essay) 1 hour 9.00 a.m. – 10.00 a.m.
- 033/1 Integrated Science 1 (Objective) 45 minutes 10.00 a.m. – 10.45 a.m.
- 003/2-0013/2 Ghanaian Language and Culture 2 (Essay) 45 minutes 1.00 p.m. – 1.45 p.m.
- 003/1-0013/1 Ghanaian Language and Culture 1 (Objective) 1 hour 1.45 p.m. – 2.45 p.m.
Friday, 11th August, 2023
- 002/2 French 2 (Essay) 1 hour 15 minutes 9.00 a.m. – 10.15 a.m.
- 002/1 French 2 (Objective) 45 minutes 10.15 a.m. – 11.00 a.m.
The GES, schools, and students are eagerly awaiting the final 2023 BECE timetable from WAEC in the coming months.