Subject Combinations For The New SHS, SHTS, and STEM Curriculum for 2024/2025 Academic Year
Subject Combinations For The New SHS, SHTS, and STEM Curriculum for 2024/2025 Academic Year
The SHS, SHTS, and STEM curriculum introduces flexibility in subject selection to enable learners to choose between a total of 7 and 9 core and elective subjects.
BECE will continue to be the exit examination for Junior High School (JHS) leavers.
JHS graduates entering Senior High School (SHS) will choose general ‘learning areas’ such as General Arts, Science, Languages, STEM, Applied Technology, Home Economics, Business Studies, and Arts. Once they are placed in schools, learners will have much more freedom than is currently the case to combine different subjects around their chosen learning area. This provides learners with more flexible options to pursue different career options.
To ensure flexibility, certain programmes, such as Home Economics and Business Studies, individual subjects have been merged into one subject.
The new subjects cover all the key learning areas under the previous programmes. Learners will now be able to take these subjects and combine them with others which would not have been possible before.
Home Economics now covers Management in Living, Clothing and Textiles, and Food and Nutrition while Business Studies covers Business Management, Cost Accounting, and Financial Accounting.
Additionally, Visual Arts has been divided into two distinct subjects: Arts and Design Studio and Arts and Design Foundation. Arts and Design Studio covers Painting, Textiles, Ceramics, Sculpture, and Graphic Design, while Arts and Design Foundation focuses on fundamental principles of art design.
Furthermore, two new subjects have been introduced. Applied Technology covers Automotive Technology, Building Construction Technology, Electrical and Electronics Technology, Metal Technology, and Woodwork Technology. Meanwhile, Design and Communications Technology (Technical Drawing) equips students with essential skills, knowledge, and competencies applicable to Applied Technology, Arts and Design, Home Economics, and Engineering. This subject encompasses conceptual drawing including free hand sketches, graphic communications, and extended drawing.
The new SHS, SHTS, and STEM Curriculum address content overload by reviewing the scope of each subject, eliminating duplications, and identifying relevant themes.
• Learners are expected to select a minimum of 7 (4 core and 3 electives) and a maximum of 9 subjects (4 core and 5 electives) for the three-year.
• Every learner is required to select FOUR (4) core subjects: Social Studies, English Language, Mathematics and Science, or Art and Design Foundation, depending on their choice of elective subjects. In addition, there are three school-based core subjects from which learners can choose.
These school-based subjects are Religious and Moral Education (RME), Physical Education and Health (PEH), and Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
• Intervention Subjects – (Intervention English and Intervention Mathematics) have been developed to assist learners who require additional support in literacy and numeracy. Schools would conduct an initial assessment to identify the learning needs of newly admitted learners for appropriate support.
Guidance and counseling coaches are being trained to provide support to learners on subject combinations and their implications for future career pathways.
Roll-out & Implementation Plan
Start date: The curriculum implementation will commence in all SHS, SHTS and STEM schools at the beginning of 2024/2025 academic year
