GES Study Leave With Pay 2026: Full List of Approved Subjects, Conditions and Application Process
The Ghana Education Service has released the approved subject areas for GES Study Leave With Pay 2026. The notice is for eligible GES staff who wish to apply for Study Leave With Pay for the 2026 academic year.
In a circular dated 20 July 2026, GES announced the approved subjects and the conditions applicants must meet before they can be considered. The circular also explains how qualified staff should apply and when the final list of beneficiaries must reach GES Headquarters.
Approved Subjects for GES Study Leave With Pay 2026
According to the circular, GES has grouped the approved subject areas into three main allocation categories. These are Teaching, Teaching and Non-Teaching, and other approved areas.
The Teaching category has the highest allocation of 60%. Teaching and Non-Teaching areas have 30%, while other approved areas have 10%.
Teaching Subjects With 60% Allocation
The approved teaching subjects are:
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Animal Husbandry
Crop Husbandry
Mathematics
Engineering
Integrated Science
General Agriculture
English Language
Physical Education
French
Ghanaian Language
ICT (Information Technology)
Special Education
Computer Science
Social Studies
Guidance and Counselling
Early Childhood
Religious Studies
Economics
Government
Geography
History
Music
Career Technology
Robotics and Coding
Teaching and Non-Teaching Areas With 30% Allocation
GES also approved some areas under the Teaching and Non-Teaching category. These areas have been given 30% allocation under the 2026 Study Leave With Pay arrangement.
Visual Arts
The approved Visual Arts areas include:
General Knowledge in Art (GKA)
Creative Art
Leather Work
Sculpture
Clothing and Textiles
Graphic Design
Picture Making
Ceramics
Painting
Basketry
Vocational Education
The approved Vocational Education areas include:
Clothing and Textiles
Hospitality Management
Catering
Fashion and Design
Management in Living
Food and Nutrition
Home Economics
Fisheries
Jewellery
Beads Making
Technical Courses
The approved Technical Courses include:
Technical Drawing
Electronics
Applied Electricity
Wood Work
Refrigeration and Airconditioning
Welding
Metal Work
Building Construction
Auto Mechanic
Auto Works and Fabrication
Draughtsmanship
Creative Art
Electrical Engineering
Plumbing and Gas Fitting
Carpentry
Other Approved Areas With 10% Allocation
The circular also lists other approved areas with 10% allocation. These areas are important to the administration and technical support functions of the education sector.
The approved areas under this category are:
Librarianship
Procurement, Purchasing, Supply and Logistics
Secretaryship
Business Administration
Estate Management
Laboratory Technician
Accounting
Conditions for GES Study Leave With Pay 2026
GES has outlined clear conditions for staff who want to apply for Study Leave With Pay. These conditions are important because meeting the subject requirement alone does not automatically qualify an applicant.
A staff member must complete at least three years of satisfactory service before qualifying for Study Leave With Pay. After completing the approved programme, the beneficiary will be bonded to serve GES for the number of years spent at the institution, plus one additional year. For example, a two-year programme will attract a three-year bond.
However, provision has been made for staff in deprived areas. An applicant who has served in a designated deprived area for two years may be considered for Study Leave With Pay.
Conditions for Special Categories of Staff
GES also provided conditions for some special categories of staff. Non-professional graduate teachers must serve for at least one year before they can be considered for any Post Graduate Diploma in Education course.
Also, staff returning from secondment must serve for a minimum of two years before they become eligible. In addition, staff who vacate, leave the Service and later return through re-appointment or re-engagement must serve for at least five years before they can qualify.
The circular further states that a staff member who does not qualify for Study Leave With Pay in the first year of study cannot apply again in the second year of the same course. Such a staff member must apply for Study Leave Without Pay if they still wish to pursue the programme.
Age and Years Left to Serve
GES has also reminded applicants that eligible staff must have at least two years left to serve after completing the course. This means the duration of the course and the applicant’s remaining years of service will be considered.
For example, a staff member who is 55 years cannot apply for Study Leave With Pay to pursue a course that lasts four years. However, such a staff member may apply for courses that last between one and two years.
In addition to these conditions, applicants must show good conduct and good performance. They must also receive a recommendation from their immediate supervisor.
How to Apply for GES Study Leave With Pay 2026
Applicants are required to obtain application forms from their Metro, Municipal or District Education Offices. This means interested staff should first contact their local education office for the forms and any internal instructions.
After obtaining the forms, applicants must complete four copies and attach certified true copies of their certificates. They should ensure that all required documents are complete before submitting the application.
Completed applications must be submitted to the applicant’s Regional Director. The submission must pass through the Metro, Municipal or District Director. For second-cycle staff, the application must pass through the Head of Institution.
Deadline for Submission to GES Headquarters
GES has directed Regional and District Directors to ensure that the list of all fully qualified beneficiaries reaches the Director of Human Resource Management and Development at GES Headquarters by Friday, 30 October 2026.
What Applicants Should Check Before Applying
Before applying, teachers should confirm that their intended course is listed among the approved subject areas. This is very important because courses outside the approved list may not attract Study Leave With Pay.
Applicants should also check their years of service, age, conduct record and supervisor recommendation. Furthermore, they should prepare certified true copies of their certificates early to avoid last-minute challenges.
Final Note
Interested applicants should read the conditions carefully, obtain the application forms from their Metro, Municipal or District Education Offices and submit all required documents through the approved channels. They should also take note of the 30 October 2026 deadline for the final list to reach GES Headquarters.
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