The Ghana Education Service (GES) has officially released the academic calendar for second-cycle institutions for the 2025/2026 academic year, with first-year students in both Single Track and Transitional Schools set to report on October 18, 2025.

In a circular dated 20th August 2025 and signed by Prince C. Agyemang-Duah, Director of the Schools and Instructions Division, GES directed all Regional Directors to disseminate the new calendar to heads of schools and ensure strict adherence across the country.

For SHS 3 (final-year students), the first term runs from 27th October 2025 to 13th February 2026, with a Christmas break from 20th December 2025 to 4th January 2026.

The second term begins 14th February 2026 and ends 21st June 2026, with the 2026 WASSCE scheduled between 20th April and 20th June 2026.

SHS 2 students will begin their first term on 5th January 2026, which includes five weeks of online studies, ending on 17th April 2026. Their second term runs from 18th May to 4th September 2026.

SHS 1 students report on 18th October 2025 for their first term, which lasts until 30th January 2026, also featuring four weeks of online learning.

They will observe a mid-term break between 31st January and 15th March 2026 before resuming for the second term on 16th March 2026.

The third term will run from 3rd July to 4th September 2026.

Under the Single Track system, SHS 3 students begin on 11th October 2025, closing on 27th February 2026, while SHS 2 and SHS 1 students start their academic year on 18th October 2025, both running until 27th February 2026. Their second terms begin on 4th May 2026 and end 21st August 2026.

Re-opening (SHS 1): 18th – 20th October 2025

Re-opening (SHS 3): 27th – 29th October 2025

Christmas Break: 20th December 2025 – 4th January 2026

Easter Break: 1st – 8th April 2026

WASSCE 2026: 20th April – 20th June 2026

2026/2027 Academic Year Begins: 11th September 2026

GES has tasked regional directors to provide monitoring and support to heads of schools to ensure that the new schedule is followed uniformly across all senior high schools.

The circular was also copied to the GES Council, WAEC, CSSPS, FSHS Secretariat of the Ministry of Education, and other key stakeholders.