Following the introduction of the Senior Secondary School System in 1991 which is part of a general educational reforms in Ghana, every Senior Secondary School was assigned a set of course programmes by the Ghana Education Service.

Ghana Secondary Technical School already with a background of Science and Technology was assigned the Technical and the General-Science and Arts-Programmes. Under each programmed were a number of options made up of a combination of course subjects and every student was to make a choice of option within the course programme of his course.

There was a review of the selection of subjects after about five years of its implementation. In 1996, new Guidelines for implementation of the Improved School Educational Reforms Programme, a new pattern of selection of subjects at the Senior Secondary School level was introduced. It was decided that the subjects under the various programmes in the SSS be as follows:

CORE (COMPULSORY) SUBJECTS

There shall be four (4) core subjects, namely

• English Language
• Mathematics
• Integrated Science (Including Agricultural & Environmental Studies)
• Social Studies (formerly Life Skills and embracing Economics, Geography, History, Government, etc.)

• Physical Education (examined internally)
• Religious Moral Education (examined internally)

1. General Programme (Science): Students were required to study

• Mathematics (Elective)
• Two or Three of the following subjects:- Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Technical Drawing and Geography.
• French or Music

Literature-In -English, French, Ghanaian Language, Music, Christian or Islamic or Traditional Religious Studies, History, Economics, Geography, Government, Mathematics (Elective), General Knowledge in Art.

3. Technical Programme

Students were required to study,

• Technical Drawing
• One of the following:- Applied Electricity, Electronics, Building Construction, Metalwork, Woodwork.
• Any one or two of the following:- Physics, Mathematics (Elective)
• French.

1. General Programme (Science): All students do the following:-
a). Physics b) Chemistry c) Biology and d) Mathernatics (EL)

2. General Programme (Arts): All students do the following;
a). Geography b). Economics c). Mathematics(EL) d). Choose between Government and French as a fourth Elective Subject.

3. Technical Programme: All students do the following:-
a). Physics b). Mathematics(EL) 3. Technical Drawing and d). Choose between Building Construction, Woodwork and Metalwork as a fourth Elective subject.

CAREER COURSES AT TERTIARY LEVEL

Every year after the S.S.S.I admission exercise a large number of parents (and their wards) become disappointed because their wards were not put on a course of their first choice. This occurs because too many candidate vie for relatively few places available for any particular option. Usually the Technical and Science programmes are over subscribed. At this juncture, it will be helpful to touch on the tertiary courses that are available to students who pursue the courses here so that parents and their wards would see their way clear in deciding whether the programme being pursued by their wards are good.

THE SCIENCE PROGRAMME

Students who read Science have access to quite a number of university courses. A few examples are Medicine, Pharmacy, Biochemistry, Agriculture, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Architecture and Design, Building Technology, BSc. Planning and Business Administration among others.

Apart from the Universities, there are a lot of opportunity in other tertiary institutions like the Nursing Training Colleges, Teacher Training Colleges and Polytechnics, where various courses could be pursued.

GENERAL ARTS PROGRAMME

Those who read the General arts programme may also read the following at the University: Law, Administration, Marketing, Architecture and Design, Building Technology, BSc. Planning, Land Economy, Social Studies. Students may enter into Piloting and Aviation courses. At the Polytechnics, students may read the Diploma courses in Accounting, Marketing, Purchasing and Supply and other related courses. The Teacher Training Colleges are also good options for them.

TECHNICAL PROGRAMME

The Technical students may read any of the Engineering Courses in the universities i.e. Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Mining and Agricultural Engineering except Chemical Engineering. They can also study Architecture and Design, Building Technology and BSc Planning.

There are also various Engineering related Diploma Courses at the Polytechnics. These courses lead to the Higher National Diploma.

It is abundantly clear that all courses run here in GSTS hold very good prospects for students. The determinant of what tertiary course one gets is merit, which goes without saying. It is our hope that students who attend this school will take every course they enter seriously as the prospects are there for the taking in each Programme.