[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-591344-105":59,"doc-detail-591344-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":123,"head_meta":125,"extra_data":127,"updated_unix":129},105,"en","revisiting-the-academic-calendar-for-basic-schools-in-ghana-extending-the-first-term-vacation","Revisiting the academic calendar for basic schools in Ghana - extending the first-term vacation","","This position paper proposes revisiting the academic calendar for Ghanaian basic schools, with emphasis on extending the first-trimester vacation to better reflect sociocultural, economic, and environmental realities. The current holiday from late December to early January overlaps with festive observances, farming needs, and harmattan conditions, leaving only about 18 days for rest and recovery. The proposed adjustment extends the vacation to the third week of January, while shortening the third-trimester vacation by two weeks to maintain 42 weeks of instructional time. Recommendations include piloting the revised calendar in selected districts, gathering stakeholder feedback, and announcing changes early to support smooth implementation, improving attendance, learning outcomes, and community wellbeing.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":40,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/revisiting-the-academic-calendar-for-basic-schools-in-ghana-extending-the-first-term-vacation/591344/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/revisiting-the-academic-calendar-for-basic-schools-in-ghana-extending-the-first-term-vacation/591344.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"eBook King","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-06","2026-10-15",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":29},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"Why does the paper recommend extending the first-trimester vacation in Ghanaian basic schools?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"Because the current first vacation overlaps with festive events, farming responsibilities, and harmattan conditions, and its roughly 18-day duration is insufficient for adequate rest and preparation for the next term.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"How does the proposal keep the instructional time at 42 weeks?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"By extending the first-trimester vacation until the third week of January and reducing the third-trimester vacation by two weeks, so curriculum delivery is not compromised.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"What implementation steps does the paper suggest for the revised academic calendar?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"Test the revised calendar in selected districts, seek feedback from stakeholders, and announce the changes well in advance to enable smooth adoption.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},591344,1792811130,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":39,"category_name":40,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":29,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":29,"language":139,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":143,"read_time":144,"preview_page_count":4},962088006270,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_085a072bc5b1113ac321206ff7593b45","African EducaƟonal Research Journal Vol. 13(1), pp. 46-51 , February 2025  \nDOI: 10. 30918/AERJ.131.25.003 ISSN: 2354-2160  \nReview  \nRevisiting the academic calendar for basic schools in Ghana: A position paper on extending the first-term vacation  \nIsaac Bengre Taley1* and Augustina Azumbila2  \n1Mampong Technical College of Education, Ghana.  \n2Afia Donyina Girls Experimental Junior High School , Ghana.  \nAccepted 11 February, 2025  \n\n| ABSTRACT\u003Cbr>This position paper proposes a revisiting of the academic calendar for Ghanaian basic schools, emphasising the need to extend the first-trimester vacation period to better align with sociocultural, economic, and environmental realities. The current first vacation, which runs from late December to early January, overlaps with festive events, farming requirements, and the harmattan season. However, its present duration of roughly 18 days has been found inadequate for sufficient rest and recuperation for students and teachers, while also creating challenges for families and teachers in farming communities. The suggested modification extends the first-trimester vacation until the third week of January, addressing several crucial issues:\u003Cbr>1. Sociocultural Demands: Ghanaian festive customs require substantial family and community participation, leaving little time for recuperation and preparation for the subsequent term.\u003Cbr>2. Agricultural Responsibilities: The dry season is critical for harvesting in farming areas where children and teachers often balance educational and farming duties.\u003Cbr>3. Environmental Challenges: Severe harmattan conditions disrupt school attendance and learning, particularly in early January.\u003Cbr>4. Financial Strain: Families experience economic strain following festive expenditures, causing delays in school readiness for numerous pupils.\u003Cbr>To preserve the 42 weeks of instructional time, the third-trimester vacation was reduced by two weeks. This balanced adjustment ensures curriculum delivery is not compromised while addressing the unique requirements of stakeholders across urban and rural areas. The recommendations include testing the revised calendar in chosen districts, seeking stakeholder feedback, and announcing changes well in advance to facilitate smooth implementation. In summary, the proposed alterations aim to boost school attendance, enhance learning outcomes, and foster the well-being of Ghana's educational community, reflecting a more responsive and inclusive approach to academic scheduling.\u003Cbr>Keywords: Vacation, Ghana education service, recuperation, rest. |\n| --- |\n| *Corresponding author. E-mail: [ibtaley@mtce.edu.gh](ibtaley@mtce.edu.gh). |\n\nINTRODUCTION  \nThe academic calendar serves as a fundamental framework for the organisation of educational activities in schools (Anand et al. , 2024) . Anand et al. (2024) further posited that academic calendars establish semester, term, or quarter systems, course schedules,  \nexamination periods, and holidays to enhance resource allocation and coordination. In Ghana, the basic school academic calendar is structured into three trimesters, interspersed with three vacations, designed to balance instructional time with rest periods for both learners and  \nTaley and Azumbila 47  \nteachers. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic that disrupted the 2019/20 to 2020/21 basic school calendars, a review of the school calendar from 2015 to 2019 shows that the first and second trimesters each had 14 contact weeks and 25 vacation days, while the  \nthird trimester had 12 contact weeks and 47 vacation days. Between 2020 and 2021, the Ghana Education Service (GES) employed innovative strategies to ensure that basic schools in Ghana completed academic engagements so that students were not  \nshortchanged in the process. Post the Covid-19 disruptions, GES has successfully reconfigured the academic calendar to align with the pre-Covid-19 status. Table 1 summarises the structure of the academic calendars from the 2015 to 2025 academ","cbCaitUIT34rnUDj","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaitUIT34rnUDj","pdf",290232,"English","# Abstract\n# Introduction\n## Academic calendar structure in Ghana\n## Post-Covid-19 calendar reconfiguration\n## Overview of the 2015–2025 calendar table\n# Rationale for extending the first-trimester vacation\n## Festive, agricultural, and environmental overlaps\n## Impacts of insufficient vacation time","[{\"question\":\"Why does the paper recommend extending the first-trimester vacation in Ghanaian basic schools?\",\"answer\":\"Because the current first vacation overlaps with festive events, farming responsibilities, and harmattan conditions, and its roughly 18-day duration is insufficient for adequate rest and preparation for the next term.\"},{\"question\":\"How does the proposal keep the instructional time at 42 weeks?\",\"answer\":\"By extending the first-trimester vacation until the third week of January and reducing the third-trimester vacation by two weeks, so curriculum delivery is not compromised.\"},{\"question\":\"What implementation steps does the paper suggest for the revised academic calendar?\",\"answer\":\"Test the revised calendar in selected districts, seek feedback from stakeholders, and announce the changes well in advance to enable smooth adoption.\"}]","Revisiting the academic calendar for basic schools in Ghana - extending the first-term vacation | PDF",1792071641,15]