GES makes U-turn, declares Dec 7 holiday for teachers and students

The Ghana Education Service has declared Wednesday December 7 as a holiday for all teachers and students in schools across the country.

This is to enable the teacher and students who may be electorates to exercise their franchise during the election.

Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Education Service Rev Jonathan Bettey made this known in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM

“Election day is a day-off for all teachers and students in our schools across the country. Everybody – teacher and pupils are given this off-day to enable them exercise their franchise and also make our environment serene for the exercise to be carried out.”

This is a U-turn from the previous position of the GES on this matter. In a statement released and signed by Rev Bettey on few days back the Service warned all school heads that December 7 is not a holiday.

The statement also directed all educational workers, teachers and students to work on Election Day.

"It is to be noted that Wednesday, 7th December, 2016 is not a holiday, therefore all teachers, students and educational workers are supposed to be at post after voting.”

“Pupils and students under 18 years are not expected to be in and around the polling stations across the country,” the statement said.

But Rev Bettey has said that this has been changed after some considerations were made.

Many Ghanaians have asked government to declare December 7 a holiday more electorates can exercise their franchise.

A Ghanaian, Derek Laryea petitioned President Mahama on Monday (November 28) to declare the day of election a holiday. He said this would ensure that many Ghanaians are not disenfranchised since they would not have to go to work or school.