The Government has begun processes to recruit over 8,000 graduate teachers for the double track system in the various senior high schools.
Beginning September 2018, second cycle schools in Ghana will run a semester module as part of moves to address infrastructural challenges brought on by the Free Senior High School programme.
A statement signed by the Head of Public Relations Unit of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Cassandra Twum Ampofo said interested applicants have until September 1, 2018, to complete an online registration which comes with a cost of GHc5.00.
“The Ghana Education Service informs the general public that it is recruiting graduate teachers for the Senior High Schools as part of its arrangement for the launching of the double track system. Interested applicants should log onto: www.gespromotions.gov.gh,” the statement stated.
Government adopted the double track system due to limited infrastructure within the senior high schools which prevented the schools from admitting more students.
The double track system is to help boost enrolment, reduce class sizes and engage students on semester basis.
The GES statement said only applicants who have completed their national service will be recruited.
“Only applicants who have completed their National Service will be shortlisted to write a test to determine their suitability for the advertised positions. Applicants should note that the GES reserves the right to post them upon recruitment to places where their services will be needed.”
The statement also said there are also limited vacancies for cooks and other non-teaching staff categories for specific schools adding that the process for recruitment of these categories will also be announced in due course.
“Deadline for online application is Saturday, September 1, 2018,” GES added in the statement.
List of 400 Senior High Schools released for double track system
Government in August 2018 released a list of Senior High Schools that will be captured under the much-touted double-track system of enrollment.
The schools will accommodate the over 180,000 students who are expected to gain admission into SHS this year.
This, government said will ensure the fulfillment of its promise of providing equal opportunity for every Ghanaian child to gain access to secondary education.
How the double track system will work
This new system will run in all the categories A and B senior high schools in the country.
The new programme creates a calendar of two semesters in a year for the SHS 1 class, containing 81 days per each semester and 41 days of vacation for a sandwich class.
Over 8,000 teachers are being recruited to handle the sandwich classes, so teachers are not be deprived of their holidays.
Under the new system, teaching hours are increased from six hours per day to eight hours per day.
Teaching hours are expected to increase from 1,080 hours per year under the current single-track system, to 1,134 hours per year under the proposed double-track system.
The new system is expected to cost GH₵323 million to implement fully.
GH₵267.2 million of this amount will go into teaching costs and GH₵55.8 million for academic interventions.
Without the double-track system, the government will require GH₵1.3 billion to accommodate the increase in numbers.
Among the infrastructure needs are 622 six-unit classroom blocks at the cost of GH₵404 million, 181,993 student desks costing GH₵81.6 million, and 3,730 teachers’ furniture estimated at GH₵3.6 million.
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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin