Ghana has since independence made significant strides in its education system.

The education
landscape in Ghana today is the result of major policy initiatives in education adopted by
successive governments. Some of the laws, policy documents and reform reports, which have
helped in meeting the educational needs and aspirations of the people are: The Education Act
of 1961; the Dzobo Report of 1973 (Recommended the JSS Concept); the New Structure and
Content of Education 1974; the Education Commission Report on Basic and Secondary
Education 1987/88; the Junior Secondary School Education (Evans-Anfom) Reforms 1987;
the University Relationalization Committee Report 1988; the Free Compulsory Universal
Basic Education Programme, 1996. (1992 Constitution) the FCUBE Policy Document and
Programme of Operations and the Junior High School and Senior High School Education
(Anamuah-Mensah) Reforms of 2007
The Ghanaian educational system before 1974 followed the structure that was left by the
British Colonial Administration. The structure that was in operation before independence was
still being followed strictly even on the attainment of independence. What might have
changed was perhaps the management of the schools and some new curriculum content
which have been included. The structure of the educational system was made up of a six-year
Basic Primary Course followed by a four-year Middle School Course. Leavers then
proceeded to pursue either a five-year Secondary/Secondary Technical School course or a
two-year Teacher Training for Certificate B and another two-year Certificate A.
In 1987, Ghanas Ministry of Education introduced a restructured educational system that
gradually replaced the British-based O-level and A-level system. The transition was
completed in June, 1996, when the last class took A-level exams. The last O-level exams
were administered in June 1994, although remedial exams will be offered through 1999.
Educational reform affects all Ghanaian schools, public and private, except for three nonGhanaian schools that offer the American high school, London O/A level and the IGCSE/IB
curricula. The Senior Secondary School curriculum, including syllabi, schedules, exams,
marking systems, and to some extent textbooks, is determined by the Ministry of Education
and is identical in all 500 Ghanaian secondary schools.
As Ghanas educational reforms are implemented, review and curriculum adjustment are
frequent. The list of required subjects, the grading system, and some subject syllabi may be
different for each successive class. Admission officials are encouraged to contact the USIS
Educational Advising Center in Accra for clarification and evaluation of applicants

transcripts and to confirm all secondary school examination results from the West African
Examinations Council, WAEC.
Senior Secondary School (SSS) consists of Forms 1 through 3, equivalent to the American grades ten through
twelve. An announcement from Ghanas Ministry of Education states, The new Senior Secondary School
reform has been developed in response to criticism that, in the past, this level of education has been overly
academic and removed from the countrys development and manpower trends. The reform will include a core
curriculum to be followed by all Senior Secondary students, along with five specialized programs, two or more
of which will be offered in each school. Students will select one specialized program, within which they will
follow one option consisting of a package of three subjects.
The core curriculum originally consisted of seven subjects studied throughout the three year senior secondary
period: English, Science, Mathematics, Agricultural and Environmental Studies, Ghanaian Language (9 different
languages offered), Life Skills (renamed Social Studies in 1999) and Physical Education. Beginning with the
class of 1998, the core curriculum was reduced to six subjects: English, Integrated Science, Mathematics, Social
Studies, Physical Education, Religious and Moral Education. Students are examined only in the first four of
these subjects.
In addition to the above core curriculum, each student entering Senior Secondary School first chooses one of the
programs and then selects a group of Elective subjects from that program, as below. Through the class of 1998,
each student took three Electives; beginning with the class of 1999, students may choose to take four Electives.
General Arts: Literature in English, French, Ghanaian Languages (11), Economics, Geography, History,
Government, Christian or Islamic Religious Studies, Music. The elective English Language course was
discontinued after 1998.
General Science: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics (advanced)
Agriculture: General Agriculture (soil science, crop science, animal science, farm management), Farm
Mechanization, Horticulture, Agricult0ural Economics & Extension.
Business: Introduction to Business Management, Accounting, Typing, Clerical Office Duties, Business Math &
Principles of Costing.
Technical: Technical Drawing & Engineering Science, Building Construction, Woodwork, Metalwork, Applied
Electricity, Electronics, Auto Mechanics.
Vocational:
Home Science: Management in Living, Clothing & Textiles, Foods & Nutrition.

Visual Arts: General Knowledge in Art, Basketry, Leatherwork, Graphic Design, Picture Making, Ceramics,
Sculpture, Textiles.
The new educational reforms implemented from September 2007 has brought four year Senior High School
(SHS) which offers general education with electives in General Arts, Business, Technical, vocational and
Agricultural Education options for entry into tertiary institutions or the job market. In addition to the elective
subjects that are offered at the SHS, every SHS students must offer English, Mathematics, Integrated Science,
Social Studies and Information Communication Technology (ICT) as his or her core subjects.