The Ghana Education Service (GES) has withdrawn the two-day mid-term holiday that was slated for November 5 and 6, 2026, for all basic schools nationwide, as a step to make up for teaching time lost during the recent teachers’ strike.
In a statement released on Monday, November 2, the GES instructed that all basic schools should stay in session and run full academic work on Thursday, November 5 and Friday, November 6, rather than proceeding on the planned break.
The move is intended to provide extra contact hours to compensate for lessons missed while teachers were absent from classrooms for close to two weeks.
The Service is therefore asking teachers, learners, parents and guardians to be guided by the new directive and to ensure pupils are in school on both days. The nationwide action was announced on September 25, 2026, by the three 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).
The unions downed tools over unresolved issues including promotions, outstanding salary arrears, allowances and conditions of service. The strike was called off on October 9 after talks involving the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, and the Council of State.
Teachers were then asked to resume duties on Monday, October 12, after government and the unions agreed on timelines to address some of the outstanding concerns. The industrial action interrupted academic work in public schools, raising concerns over lost curriculum time and its effect on the school calendar.
According to the GES, cancelling the November mid-term break is part of measures to recover the lost hours and keep academic work on track. The Service is appealing to all stakeholders in education to cooperate and comply with the revised schedule.
