What course should my ward offer at the senior high school? I have heard parents making remarks which suggest they are having trouble in deciding what course their ward/s should offer at the senior high school level. But who should make that decision? Is it the parents, the teachers or the students?

I sincerely believe that students should be counselled and input from the teachers should play a paramount role in making the final decision. Parents should never impose a course for their ward/s at the Senior High School.

Courses available at most Senior High Schools

Though the duration of Senior High School was extended from three years to four years starting from the 2007/2008 academic year, the core curriculum and the specialized subjects being pursued under the different courses remains the same. Also, most senior high schools introduce the students to all the various subjects in the first year; offer another counselling program for them before they finally choose their courses in the second year. The core subjects being offered are: Mathematics, English, Integrated Science and Social Studies. Each student is required to offer four elective subjects at the senior high school.

Courses being offered in most Senior High School

General Science

Students who are good in Mathematics, Integrated science and English Language have a greater probability of excelling in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE)

A very wide option is available for students to specialize in at the University. Students who wish to enter the college of Engineering at KNUST to must obtain at least aggregate 12 in WASSCE.   The faculty of medicine at KNUST demands the best aggregate (06-07) followed by an interview. Students with aggregate 06-14 in WASSCE have a high chance of gaining admission into the Faculty of Pharmacy, college of sciences and the college of Agriculture and Renewable resources.

Students with a good result (06-12) can gain admission into the College of Health sciences, the College of Agriculture and Consumer sciences and the Faculty of Engineering Science in the University of Ghana, Legon. The University of Cape Coast admits Science students with aggregate between (06-14) in the School of Social sciences, School of Physical sciences and in the School of Agriculture.

General Arts

Most general arts’ students aim at gaining admission into the Faculty of law and the Faculty of arts’ at the University of Ghana, Legon. Entrance into these faculties is very competitive. Students with aggregate (06-12) have a higher chance of being granted admission.

 The College of Art and Social Sciences at KNUST and Cape Coast University also admits a lot of students with General arts’ background. Entrance into these faculties is very competitive. Students with aggregate (06-15) in WASSCE have a higher chance of being granted admission.

Visual Arts and Home Economics

Students with visual arts and Home economics background can gain admission into the Department of Integrated Rural Art and Industry. Students are required to pass three core subjects and three electives.

 For admission into Department of Publishing studies, Visual arts’ students must offer any of the following electives (General Knowledge in Art, Picture Making and /or Graphic Design plus Textiles or Sculpture or Leatherwork.) Home Economics Students must offer the following electives (General knowledge in Art, Management in Living plus either Food and Nutrition or Clothing and Textiles)

 For admission into the Faculty of law, Visual arts’ students must pass three electives and the three core subjects.

For admission into the College of Architecture, Visual arts’ students must offer elective maths as part of their elective subjects.

 Below is the list of Cut off Marks into the various Departments for the 2007/2008 academic year at the University of Science and Technology, Kumasi