The Private Senior High Schools Association of Ghana is calling on the government to revert to the 4-year senior high school (SHS) system to halt the falling standards of education.

The association’s financial secretary, Mr Alex Arthur, told Accra News Friday January 1, 2016 that the three-year SHS system being run currently is too short for completion of the syllabus.

“In the three-year SHS, the first term is used for soccer, the second term for athletics. So, in the first year, there is only one term dedicated fully to academic work,” Mr Arthur explained.

“The second year also comprises three terms, and also includes games and athletics.

“Then in the third year, once we are done with the first term, the second term that follows is for the WASSCE. So, throughout the three years, the students have only seven terms available for studies and sports,” he argued.

Mr. Arthur said the association is, thus, urging the government to re-introduce the four-year curriculum for senior high schools to ensure effective teaching and improved grades.

The Kufuor administration, in 2007, introduced the four-year SHS system which arose from recommendations by the Anamuah-Mensah committee. But the Mills-led government in 2010 reversed the duration to three.

But Mr Arthur is adamant that three years of high school education has been the cause of poor WASSCE results, saying the extra year will enable teachers offer their students better tutorials.