Parliament through the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin has called for the rescheduling of the reopening date for first-year Senior High School students.

Speaker Bagbin urged the Education Ministry to move the reopening date from Monday, December 4 to the first week of January 2024.

“The house calls on and urges the Minister of Education to reconsider the directive by the Ministry of Education to students and authorities, including teaching and non-teaching staff, to resume academic work on Monday, December 4, 2023.”

Alban Bagbin further directed the Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Adutwum to appear before Parliament on Monday, 4 December 2023, to brief it on why freshers will be reporting to school and just after two weeks vacate for Christmas break.

“The house proposes for the consideration of the Ministry of Education the first week of January 2024 for the resumption of academic work in these schools. The Minister of Education is directed thereafter to report to brief the house on Monday, December 4.”

He asked the Education Ministry to issue a statement as soon as possible to affirm the directives of Parliament to avoid the bewilderment where some students would be reporting to their various schools whilst others remain at home.

Speaker Bagbin called on parents and students to keep calm as Parliament and the Education Ministry work around the clock to resolve the issue.

“The house further calls on students, parents, teachers, and teaching staff to keep calm as the house resolves the matter,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Majority Leader, Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu has urged Parliament to act cautiously and not to cause any problems by issuing instructions to counter the statement issued by the Ministry of Education