GES Declares 25th September 2026 as National CPD Day: What Teachers Need to Know

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has officially declared Friday, 25th September 2026 as National Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Day. The announcement was contained in a circular dated 15th September 2026, signed by Prof. Smile Dzisi (Mrs.), Deputy Director-General (Management Services), on behalf of the Director-General. This year’s theme is: “Assessment in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Empowering Teachers to Assess Learning.”

Continuous Professional Development has become a core part of teacher growth in Ghana. Rather than treating training as an occasional event, the GES is institutionalising a dedicated national day each year. The 2026 edition focuses squarely on one of the most urgent questions facing classrooms today: how teachers can assess student learning effectively in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.

AI tools are already influencing how students research, write, and solve problems. Traditional assessment methods alone are no longer enough. Teachers need practical strategies to design fair, meaningful, and future-ready assessments that measure real understanding rather than just the ability to generate answers with technology.

The letter, addressed to all Regional Directors, instructs them to:

- Inform every Metropolitan, Municipal and District Director of Education  

- Pass the information to Regional Managers of Education Units  

- Ensure Heads of Schools receive and act on the directive  

Regional Directors are further asked to coordinate the necessary arrangements so that participation is high and the day’s activities are successfully implemented. The GES is counting on full cooperation to make the programme impactful.

Although the circular does not spell out the exact programme structure, National CPD Days typically involve structured professional learning sessions organised at school, circuit, or district level. Activities may include workshops, peer learning, practical demonstrations, and discussions centred on the annual theme.

For 2026, sessions are likely to explore:

- How AI is changing student learning and assessment practices  

- Strategies for designing assessments that remain valid in an AI-supported environment  

- Ways teachers can use technology responsibly while still measuring critical thinking, creativity and mastery  

- Practical classroom tools that help teachers assess learning more effectively. School heads and circuit supervisors will play a key role in planning local activities that respond to the needs of their teachers. The declaration of a National CPD Day signals a continued commitment by the Ghana Education Service to keep teachers professionally updated. By focusing on assessment in the age of AI, the 2026 edition addresses a real classroom challenge rather than a theoretical one.

Teachers, school leaders and education officers are encouraged to treat 25th September 2026 as a serious professional learning opportunity. When the system invests in the continuous growth of its educators, students stand to benefit the most.

Source: Official Ghana Education Service Social Media Page