GES AD II Promotion cheat sheet

GES is the agency under the Ministry of Education (MoE) responsible for implementing pre-tertiary education policy; the Ministry sets policy, GES delivers it.

Legal mandate derives from the Education Act, 2008 (Act 778) and the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), which recast GES as a regulator and service provider for pre-tertiary education.

Pre-tertiary scope runs from Kindergarten through Senior High School, including Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions under the pre-tertiary umbrella.

The GES Council is the highest governing body; the Director-General is the chief executive and accounting officer, supported by Deputy Directors-General for Quality and Access and for Management Services.

Administration is decentralised: Headquarters (policy, standards, monitoring), Regional Directorates (coordination, supervision of districts), and District Directorates (direct school supervision).

Basic education is compulsory for children of school-going age under the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) policy and the Education Act.

Key statutory bodies interfacing with GES include the National Teaching Council (teacher licensing), National Schools Inspectorate Authority (inspection), and National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (curriculum).

GES oversees both public and private pre-tertiary institutions; private schools are registered and regulated but not funded from the public payroll.

Headquarters divisions include Basic Education, Secondary Education, TVET, Teacher Education, Planning and Budget, Finance and Administration, Human Resource Management, and Internal Audit.

Regional Directorates are headed by Regional Directors who report to the Director-General and supervise District Directors within the region.

District Directorates are the frontline units; District Directors supervise Circuit Supervisors and headteachers of schools in their districts.

Circuit Supervisors are the immediate link between the District Directorate and schools, conducting routine school visits and reporting on instruction and compliance.

School-level governance rests with the School Management Committee (SMC) for basic schools and the Board of Governors for second-cycle institutions.

Headteachers are responsible for day-to-day school management, staff deployment within the school, and reporting to the District Directorate.

The GES Council approves major policies and appointments; the Director-General executes decisions and represents GES externally.

Line of accountability runs: school → circuit → district → region → headquarters → Ministry of Education → Parliament/Executive.

A GES circular is an official directive issued by the Director-General or a designated officer; it is binding on the addressees and takes effect from its stated date.

The Schemes of Service document sets out job descriptions, entry requirements, career progression, and conditions of service for GES staff categories.

The Code of Conduct for teachers is enforced through disciplinary procedures; breaches can lead to sanctions up to dismissal.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) Conditions of Service govern appointments, promotions, transfers, leave, and retirement for staff.

Promotion in GES is typically based on qualification, years of service, performance appraisal, and availability of vacancies in the higher grade.

Guidelines on school fees, admission, and examination conduct are issued periodically and supersede earlier circulars on the same subject.

The Ghana Teaching Service is the professional body framework for teachers; licensing and registration are handled by the National Teaching Council.

Circulars on transfers specify that transfers are administrative and may be initiated by the employer in the interest of the service.

The Standards-Based Curriculum (SBC) for basic schools emphasises content standards, indicators, core competencies, and assessment for learning.

The Common Core Programme (CCP) applies to JHS 1 to SHS 1 (B7–B10) and stresses core competencies, values, and learner-centred pedagogy.

The Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy provides tuition support for SHS students, with placement handled through the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).

The School Feeding Programme provides one hot nutritious meal per school day to pupils in participating basic schools.

Curriculum materials include teacher manuals, learner textbooks, and the National Curriculum Framework issued by NaCCA.

The Capitation Grant supports basic schools with per-pupil funding for operational expenses; its utilisation is guided by GES financial guidelines.

The Ghana Learning Outcomes and assessment framework emphasises School-Based Assessment (SBA) contributing to final grades at SHS.

The Teacher Professional Development framework supports continuous professional development and links to licensure renewal.