GES Declares September 25 National Continuous Professional Development Day
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has declared Friday, September 25, 2026, as National Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Day for educators across the country.
The initiative is intended to support the continued professional development of teachers and strengthen their capacity to respond to changing demands in education.
According to the latest notice published by the GES Ashanti Regional Directorate, this year’s CPD Day will focus on the growing role of artificial intelligence in education and, particularly, how teachers can assess student learning effectively in an environment where AI tools are increasingly available.
Theme for the 2026 CPD Day
The theme for this year’s National CPD Day is:
“Assessment in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Empowering Teachers to Assess Learning.”
The theme places assessment at the centre of discussions around artificial intelligence and education.
As digital tools become more common in classrooms and among students, teachers are increasingly required to understand how technology can affect teaching, learning and assessment.
Why Continuous Professional Development Matters
Continuous Professional Development gives teachers opportunities to update their knowledge, strengthen their professional skills and learn about emerging approaches to teaching.
Education continues to change as new technologies, teaching methods and learning resources become available.
For teachers, professional development can therefore provide opportunities to examine current classroom practices and identify ways to improve teaching and learning.
The GES has identified teacher capacity development as an important part of improving the quality of education delivered across the country.
Artificial Intelligence and Education
Artificial intelligence has become an increasingly important issue in education.
Students can now access digital tools capable of generating explanations, answering questions, summarising information and assisting with different forms of schoolwork.
This creates new opportunities for learning, but it also presents questions about how teachers can accurately assess what students understand and what they can independently do.
The 2026 CPD theme therefore puts attention on assessment in an environment where AI tools are becoming more accessible.
What Teachers May Focus On
The CPD activities are expected to provide opportunities for educators to discuss issues surrounding assessment and AI.
These may include how teachers design meaningful assessments, how learning can be evaluated beyond simple recall and how technology can be incorporated responsibly into teaching and assessment.
The broader objective is to strengthen teachers’ ability to assess learning while responding to changes in the educational environment.
GES and Teacher Development
Teacher development forms part of the Ghana Education Service’s broader responsibility for improving pre-tertiary education.
GES is responsible for implementing approved national policies on pre-tertiary education and managing and supervising public basic and secondary schools. Its mandate also includes supporting educational programmes and monitoring educational standards.
Professional development activities are therefore part of the wider effort to strengthen teaching and learning across Ghana’s pre-tertiary education system.
What the September 25 Date Means
The declaration means that September 25, 2026, has been designated for the National CPD activity.
Teachers and education authorities will be expected to take note of the date and follow the instructions provided through their respective education structures.
Specific arrangements for participation may vary according to directives issued by the relevant education authorities.
AI Brings New Questions for Schools
The increasing use of AI has created new questions for schools, teachers, students and education policymakers.
One of the key questions is how schools can maintain meaningful assessment when students have access to tools that can generate answers and other forms of academic assistance.
Teachers may need to place greater emphasis on activities that demonstrate understanding, reasoning, practical application and individual learning.
The 2026 CPD theme provides an opportunity for educators to discuss these issues within the professional development framework.
A Focus on Better Assessment
Assessment is an important part of the teaching and learning process.
It allows teachers to understand students’ progress, identify areas where additional support is needed and determine whether learning objectives are being achieved.
The focus on assessment during this year’s CPD Day therefore connects technology with one of the most important responsibilities of teachers.
Rather than treating AI simply as a technology issue, the theme encourages attention to how assessment itself can respond to a changing learning environment.
What Teachers Should Expect
Teachers should look out for official communication from their respective education authorities concerning the arrangements for the National CPD Day.
The GES Ashanti Regional Directorate has already published the September 25 date and the 2026 theme as part of its current announcements.
Further information about local activities, participation and specific programmes should be obtained through the appropriate education authorities.
Conclusion
The Ghana Education Service has declared Friday, September 25, 2026, as National Continuous Professional Development Day.
This year’s theme, “Assessment in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Empowering Teachers to Assess Learning,” puts the spotlight on how educators can approach assessment as technology continues to influence education.
The initiative provides an opportunity for teachers to reflect on assessment practices, professional skills and the changing role of technology in schools.
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly relevant to education, professional development will remain an important part of helping teachers respond to new opportunities and challenges.
