GES Announces 2026 Study Leave With Pay Guidelines: Approved Programmes, Eligibility Criteria and Application Procedures.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has officially released the 2026 Study Leave With Pay guidelines, which provide detailed information on approved programmes, eligibility conditions, application procedures, and the allocation of study opportunities for prospective applicants.
The guidelines serve as a reference for teaching and non-teaching staff who wish to pursue further studies while receiving their salaries. They outline the requirements applicants must satisfy, the priority areas of study identified by GES, and the processes involved in submitting applications for consideration.
Eligible GES employees are encouraged to carefully assess their qualifications, follow the stated procedures, and submit their applications within the stipulated deadline to improve their chances of approval.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must satisfy the following conditions before applying:
▪️ Have completed at least three (3) years of satisfactory service with GES. Successful applicants will be bonded for the duration of the programme plus one additional year.
▪️ Staff serving in designated deprived areas may become eligible after two (2) years of service.
▪️ Non-professional graduate teachers seeking admission into Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) programmes must have served for a minimum of one (1) year.
▪️ Officers returning from secondment are required to complete at least two (2) years of active service before applying.
▪️ Re-appointed or re-engaged employees must have rendered five (5) years of service to qualify.
▪️ Staff who do not qualify for Study Leave With Pay in their first year of eligibility cannot reapply the following year under the same category. Such applicants may only pursue Study Leave Without Pay.
▪️ Applicants must have at least two (2) years of service remaining after completing their programme. This means officers nearing retirement may only qualify for shorter courses depending on their age and programme duration.
▪️ A satisfactory work record, good conduct, and a favourable recommendation from the appropriate supervisory authority are mandatory.
Application Procedure
Qualified applicants are required to:
▪️ Obtain the official application forms from their respective Metropolitan, Municipal or District Education Office.
▪️ Submit four (4) completed copies of the application form together with certified copies of all relevant academic certificates.
▪️ Forward the application through the Head of Institution and District Director of Education to the Regional Director of Education for onward submission.
▪️ Ensure all qualified applicants' lists reach the Human Resource Management and Development Division (HRMD) at the GES Headquarters no later than Friday, 30 October 2026.
Approved Fields of Study
GES has categorised approved programmes according to national staffing priorities:
▪️ 60% Allocation – Priority Teaching Subjects
The largest allocation is reserved for core teaching disciplines, including Mathematics, English Language, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Social Studies, Robotics and Coding, together with other approved teaching subject areas, bringing the total to 27 priority disciplines.
▪️ 30% Allocation – Teaching and Technical/Vocational Programmes
This category covers programmes in Visual Arts, Technical Education, Vocational Education, and other related teaching and technical specialisations.
▪️ 10% Allocation – Administrative and Support Services
The remaining allocation is dedicated to specialised non-teaching programmes such as Librarianship, Procurement and Supply Chain Management, Secretaryship, Business Administration, Estate Management, Laboratory Technology, and Accounting.
The 2026 Study Leave With Pay policy reflects GES's commitment to strengthening professional capacity by investing in programmes that address the critical human resource needs of Ghana's education sector. Eligible staff are therefore encouraged to complete and submit their applications within the stipulated timelines.