The Ghana Education Service (GES) was established, as part of the Public Service of Ghana, in 1974 by NRCD 247 and was subsequently amended by NRCD 252, 357 and SMCD 63. Under the forth Republican Constitution of Ghana, these earlier legislations have been amended by Acts of Parliament, including Act 506 (1994) and Act 778 (2008). The GES is governed by a fifteen- member Council called the GES Council.

Vision Statement
The Ghana Education Service (GES) seeks to create an enabling environment in all educational institutions and management positions that will facilitate effective teaching and learning and efficiency in the management of the attainment of the goals of the Service.

Mission Statement
To ensure that Ghanaian children of school-going age are provided with quality formal education and training through effective and efficient management of resources to make education delivery relevant to the manpower needs of the nation.

Mandate of GES
GES is responsible for the implementation of pre-tertiary educational policies of the Government to ensure that all Ghanaian children of school-going age irrespective of tribe, gender, disability, religious and political affiliations are provided with good quality formal education.
Objectives of GES
The objectives of GES are in accordance with the National Policy Objectives espoused in the Education Strategic Plan (ESP). The key objectives of the Service are as follows:

• Increase inclusive and equitable access to and participation in education at all levels Ensure provision of life skills training and management of personal hygiene, family life, gender, health, HIV/AIDS/STIs, etc.

• Improve the quality of teaching and learning

• Improve the Management of education service delivery

There are four (4) main programmes under the GES and these include:

• Pre-tertiary education management including Headquarters Divisions, Regional and District directorates

• Basic Education, comprising Kindergarten, Primary and Junior High Schools Secondary Education comprising SHS and TVET

• Special and Inclusive Education

• Meanwhile, Basic Education has been redefined to include Secondary Education as part of the Government’s new policy initiative on Pre-tertiary Education.

Functions
The functions of GES are as follows:

• To provide and oversee Basic Education, Senior High Education, Technical Education as well as Special Education

• To register, supervise and inspect private pre-tertiary educational institutions

• To submit to the Minister the recommendations for educational policies and programmes

• To promote the efficiency and full development of talents among its members

• To register teachers and keep an up-to-date register of all teachers in the public system To carry out such other functions as are incidental to the attainment of the functions specified above.

• To maintain professional standards and the conduct of its personnel

On-going Reforms
As part of efforts to promote quality pre-tertiary education service delivery, the following reforms have been or are being made:

• Re-alignment of the Teacher Education Division of GES as an agency under the Ministry of Education (now known as the National Teaching Council)

• Re-alignment of the Curriculum Research and Development Division of GES as an agency under the Ministry of Education (now known as the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment)

• Re-alignment of the Inspectorate Division of GES as an agency under the Ministry of Education (now called the National Inspectorate Board) » Re-alignment of the Technical/Vocational Education Division (TVED) of GES as an agency under the Ministry of Education (to be named Ghana Technical Education Service)

• Creation of a new division of GES (to be called Management Service Division) which shall include Special and Inclusive Education, Guidance and Counselling and School Health Education Programme (SHEP)

• Collaboration with Development Partners, Private Sector and Stakeholders
  The following organisations and stakeholders are partnering the GES in the implementation of its programmes and activities:

  • United Nations Children’s Fund (for Education Programme)

  • United Nations Children’s Fund (for Education Programme)

  • United States Agency for International Development (for Partnerships for Education Project: Social Impact, Learning, Innovation, Improving Reading Performance in Primary Schools)

  • United Kingdom for International Development (for Complementary Basic Education Programme)

  • Belgium/TELEVIC (for Supply and Installation of Integrated E-learning Lab for 240 SHSs)

  • Kreditanstalt Wiederaufbau (KfW)-( for Supporting Vocational Training: Voucher Programme)

  • World Bank- (for Ghana Secondary Education Improvement Project)

  • Kuwait-(for Expansion and Development of 26 Existing SHS Project)

  
  Key Strategic Focus Areas within 4-Year Sector Medium-Term Plan
  The following organisations and stakeholders are partnering the GES in the implementation of its programmes and activities:

  • Pre-tertiary education management including Headquarters Divisions, Regional and District directorates

  • Basic Education, comprising Kindergarten, Primary and Junior High Schools

  • Secondary Education comprising SHS and TVET

  • Special and Inclusive Education