Senior Secondary School graduates are now expected to apply for admission into the universities as from the next academic year, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Director-General of the Ghana Education Service said on Saturday.

Announcing this at the 51st speech and prize-giving day of the Prempeh College in Kumasi, he said the decision followed the acceptance of recommendations by the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals (CVCP) to the universities. Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi, who was the special guest of honour, said, "the scare of a three year wait by our children and wards is over. Indeed it is a major step forward."

The implication of this decision, he said, is that the universities and other tertiary institutions will admit students with very good results.

He charged students to stand up to the task, adding, those with average grades may need to take advantage of examinations for private candidates offered every years, to improve on their results.

The Director-General said the GES has listened to concerns raised by parents, teachers, headmasters and headmistresses during the implementation of the revised calendar.

He enumerated measures that have been taken to help improve upon the management of the change and said for instance that funds have been sought to print more text-books for Senior Secondary Schools.

Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi said in response to a plea by the Committee of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), the GES is considering a reward scheme, most likely financial, for extra work undertaken by teachers.

He said the movement of heads of institutions is being shelved, except where it is absolutely necessary, to allow for continuity of measures already put in place.

The Director-General called on teachers and students to fully utilise the official contact hours as the three years duration of the SSS programme has been reduced to two-and-a-half years, because of the change over of the academic year from January-December to September-June.

In his report, the Headmaster Mr Ernest Sekyere said the school chalked 99.3 per cent in the 1999 Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE) as against 98 per cent in 1998.

By that result, he said, Prempeh College topped all SSS in Ashanti and was among the best three schools in the country.

He said two years ago, when he assumed duty in the school, there had been no substantive headmaster for three years, some of the college buildings and land had been turned into private property, the physical environment was deplorable and discipline was very low.

However, Mr Sekyere said, there is now some discipline, the physical structures have been improved and there is a general atmosphere of belonging from both students and masters.

He said the school has also renovated its dispensary and sick bay and engaged the service of a nurse.

The headmaster appealed to the Director-General to get the Ministry of Finance to redeem a pledge President Rawlings made to the school last year, to complete its library.