New Learning Areas For SHS, SHTS And STEM Schools In Ghana
These learning areas will serve as guidelines for Ghanaian students, especially BECE graduates, high school first year students, and teachers on how subject combinations will work for the SHS, SHTS and STEM Curriculum.
Learning Areas For SHS, SHTS And STEM Schools
According to the National Council for Curriculum And Assessment (NaCCA), and the Ghana Education Service (GES), JHS graduates entering the Senior High School will choose from 8 ‘Learning Areas’, (formerly called Programmes).
Schools in Ghana can choose the following Learning Areas when they apply for Senior High School Admission:
- Science
- General Arts
- Business
- Applied Technology
- Home Economics
- Art
- Agriculture
- STEM
Also, BECE graduates can now choose their preferred subjects from the following Learning Areas when they are enrolled in the Senior High School:
- Science
- General Arts
- Business
- Applied Technology
- Home Economics
- Art
- STEM
- Agriculture
- Language
Subject Combination For The Various Learning Areas
Now, let’s go on to look at the possible subject combinations for BECE Graduates or first year senior school students.
Learning Area 1: Science
If you choose Science as your learning area, these are the possible core subjects and electives you can combine.
| GROUP A (CORE) | GROUP B (SCIENCE ELECTIVES) | GROUP C (ADDITIONAL ELECTIVES) | GROUP D (HUMANITIES ELECTIVES) |
| For a student who has chosen ‘Science’ as their Learning Area, the subjects below are MANDATORY. | Each student must do a MINIMUM OF TWO AND MAXIMUM OF FOUR of the subjects below. | Students may also choose ONE OR TWO of the subjects below. | Students may also choose ONE of the subjects below. |
| 1. Mathematics 2. Social Studies 3. English Language 4. PEH (core) (not externally examinable) | 1. Agriculture 2. Biology 3. Chemistry 4. Computing 5. Physics 6. Additional Mathematics 7. PEH (elective) 8. Robotics 9. Engineering 10. Aviation & Aerospace | 1. ICT 2. Art and Design Studio 3. Applied Technology 4. Design & Communication Technology 5. Home Economics 6. Performing Arts 7. Business Studies 8. Art and Design Foundation 9. RME 10. Agricultural Science | 1. Economics 2. Geography 3. Government 4. History 5. Religious Studies 6. Ghanaian Languages 7. Arabic 8. French 9. Literature in English |
Learning Area 2: General Arts
If you select General Arts as your learning area, these are the possible core subjects and electives you can combine.
| GROUP A (CORE) | GROUP B (GENERAL ARTS ELECTIVES) | GROUP C (ADDITIONAL ELECTIVES) | GROUP D (SCIENCE ELECTIVES) |
| For every student who has chosen ‘General Arts’ as their Learning Area the subjects below are MANDATORY. | Each student must do a MINIMUM OF TWO and MAXIMUM OF FOUR of the subjects below. | Students may also choose ONE OR TWO of the subjects below. | Learners may also choose ONE of the subjects below. |
| 1. Mathematics 2. Social Studies 3. English Language 4. General Science 5. PEH (core) (not externally examinable) | 1. Economics 2. Geography 3. Government 4. History 5. Religious Studies 6. Literature in English | 1. ICT 2. Applied Technology 3. Design & Communication Technology 4. Art and Design Foundation 5. Art and Design Studio 6. Home Economics 7. Performing Arts 8. Business Studies 9. Ghanaian Languages 10. Arabic 11. French | 1. Agriculture 2. Biology 3. Chemistry 4. Computing 5. Physics 6. Additional Mathematics 7. PEH (elective)Agricultural Science |
Learning Area 3: Business
If you select Business as your learning area, these are the possible core subjects and electives you can combine.
| GROUP A (CORE) | GROUP B (BUSINESS ELECTIVES) | GROUP C (ADDITIONAL ELECTIVES) | GROUP D (SCIENCE ELECTIVES) |
| For every student who has selected ‘Business’ as their Learning Area the subjects below are MANDATORY | Each student must do a MINIMUM OF THREE AND MAXIMUM OF FIVE of the subjects below. | Students may also choose ONE OR TWO of the subjects below. | Students may also choose ONE of the subjects below. |
| 1. Mathematics 2. Social Studies 3. English Language 4. General Science 5. PEH (not externally examinable) | In Year One all students MUST do: 1. Business Studies Then in Years Two and Three they MUST do the following: 1. Business Management 2. Accounting And between ONE and THREE of the following: 1. Economics 2. ICT 3. Additional Mathematics | 1. Geography 2. Government 3. History 4. Religious Studies 5. Literature in English 6. Applied Technology 7. Computing Design & Communication Technology 8. Art and Design Foundation 9. Art and Design Studio 10. Home Economics 11. Performing Arts 12. Ghanaian Languages 13. Arabic 14. French | 1. Agriculture 2. Biology 3. Chemistry 4. Physics 5. PEH (elective) 6. Agricultural Science |
Learning Area 4: Applied Technology
If you select Applied Technology as your learning area, these are the possible core subjects and electives you can combine.
| GROUP A (CORE) | GROUP B (APPLIED TECHNOLOGY ELECTIVES) | GROUP C (ADDITIONAL ELECTIVES) | GROUP D (HUMANITIES ELECTIVES) |
| For every student who has selected ‘Applied Technology’ as their Learning Area the subjects below are MANDATORY | Each student must do a MINIMUM OF TWO AND MAXIMUM OF FOUR of the subjects below. | Students may also choose ONE OR TWO of the subjects below. | Students may also choose ONE or TWO of the subjects below. |
| 1. Mathematics 2. Social Studies 3. English Language 4. General Science 5. PEH (not externally examinable) | Each student MUST do the following: 1. Design & Communication Technology (MANDATORY) ONE of the following: 1. Applied Technology (Automobile and Metal Technology) 2. Applied Technology (Building Construction and Wood Technology) 3. Applied Technology (Electrical and Electronic Technology) PLUS ONE or TWO of the following: 1. ICT 2. Physics 3. Additional Mathematics 4. Art and Design Foundation | 1. Agriculture 2. Biology 3. Chemistry 4. Computing 5. PEH (elective) 6. Home Economics 7. Computing 8. Business Studies 9. Art and Design Studio 10. Home Economics 11. Performing Arts 12. Agricultural Science | 1. Geography 2. Economics 3. Government 4. History 5. Religious Studies 6. Literature in English 7. Ghanaian Languages 8. Arabic 10. French |
Learning Area 5: Home Economics
If you select Home Economics as your learning area, these are the possible core subjects and electives you can combine.
| GROUP A (CORE) | GROUP B (HOME ECONOMICS ELECTIVES) | GROUP C (ADDITIONAL ELECTIVES) | GROUP D (HUMANITIES ELECTIVES) |
| For every student who has selected ‘Home Economics’ as their Learning Area the subjects below are MANDATORY | Each student must do a MINIMUM OF TWO AND MAXIMUM OF FOUR of the subjects below. | Students may also choose ONE OR TWO of the subjects below. | Students may also choose ONE of the subjects below. |
| 1. Mathematics 2. Social Studies 3. English Language 4. General Science PEH (not externally examinable) | Each student must do the following: 1. Home Economics And one, two or three of the following: 1. Biology 2. Design & Communication Technology 3. PEH (elective) Agriculture | 1. Applied Technology 2. Business Studies 3. Art and Design Foundation 4. Art and Design Studio 5. Performing Arts 6. Chemistry 7. Physics 8. Additional Mathematics 9. ICT 10. Agricultural Science | 1. Geography 2. Government 3. History 4. Religious Studies 5. Literature in English 6. Ghanaian Languages 7. Arabic 8. French 9. Economics 10. Computing |
Learning Area 6: Art
If you select Art as your learning area, these are the possible core subjects and electives you can combine.
| GROUP A (CORE) | GROUP B (ART ELECTIVES) | GROUP C (ADDITIONAL ELECTIVES) | GROUP D (SCIENCE ELECTIVES) |
| For every student who has selected ‘Art’ as their Learning Area the subjects below are MANDATORY. | Each student must do a MINIMUM OF TWO AND MAXIMUM OF FOUR of the subjects below. | Student may also choose ONE OR TWO of the subjects below. | Student may also choose ONE of the subjects below. |
| 1. Mathematics 2. Social Studies 3. English Language 4. General Science 5. PEH (not externally examinable) | Each learner MUST do the following: 1. Art and Design Foundation And ONE, TWO or THREE of the following: 1. Art and Design Studio 2. Performing Arts 3. Design & Communication Technology 4. ICT | 1. Applied Technology 2. Home Economics 3. Business Studies 4. Economics 5. Geography 6. Government 7. History 8. Religious Studies 9. Literature in English 10. Ghanaian Languages 11. Arabic 12. French | 1. Agriculture 2. Biology 3. Chemistry 4. Computing 5. Physics 6. Additional Mathematics 7. PEH (elective) 8. Agricultural Science |
Learning Area 7: Agriculture
If you select Agriculture as your learning area, these are the possible core subjects and electives you can combine.
| GROUP A (CORE) | GROUP B (AGRICULTURE ELECTIVES) | GROUP C (ADDITIONAL ELECTIVES) | GROUP D (HUMANITIES ELECTIVES) |
| For every student who has selected ‘Agriculture’ as their Learning Area the subjects below are MANDATORY | In addition to Agriculture each student must do a MINIMUM OF ONE AND MAXIMUM OF THREE of the subjects below. | Students may also choose ONE, TWO or THREE of the subjects below. | Students may also choose ONE of the subjects below. |
| 1. Mathematics 2. Social Studies 3. English Language 4. General Science 5. PEH (not externally examinable) | Each student MUST do the following: 1. Agriculture In addition to ONE, TWO or THREE of the following: 1. Chemistry 2. Physics 3. Biology 4. Computing 5. Additional Mathematics | 1. ICT 2. Applied Technology 3. Home Economics 4. Business Studies 5. RME 6. Art and Design Foundation 7. Art and Design Studio 8. Design & Communication Technology 9. Performing Arts 10. Ghanaian Languages 11. French 12. Arabic | 1. Economics 2. Geography 3. Government 4. History 5. Literature in English 6. Religious Studies |
Learning Area 8. Languages
If you select Languages as your learning area, these are the possible core subjects and electives you can combine.
| GROUP A (CORE) | GROUP B (LANGUAGES ELECTIVES) | GROUP C (ADDITIONAL ELECTIVES) | GROUP D (SCIENCE ELECTIVES) |
| For every student who has selected ‘Languages’ as their Learning Area the subjects below are MANDATORY | Each student must do a MINIMUM OF ONE AND MAXIMUM OF THREE of the subjects below. | Students may also choose ONE, TWO or THREE of the subjects below. | Students may also choose ONE of the subjects below. |
| 1. Mathematics 2. Social Studies 3. English Language 4. General Science 5. PEH (not externally examinable) | 1. Ghanaian Languages 2. French 3. Arabic 4. Literature in English | 1. ICT 2. Applied Technology 3. Home Economics 4. Business Studies 5. Economics 6. Geography 7. Government 8. History 9. Religious Studies 10. Art and Design Foundation 11. Art and Design Studio 12. Design & Communication Technology 13. Performing Arts | 1. Agriculture 2. Biology 3. Chemistry 4. Computing Physics 5. Additional Mathematics 6. PEH (elective) 7. Agricultural Science |
Learning Area 9: STEM (for designated STEM schools only)
If you select STEM as your learning area, these are the possible core subjects and electives you can combine.
| GROUP A (CORE) | GROUP B (STEM ELECTIVES) | GROUP C (ADDITIONAL ELECTIVES) | GROUP D (HUMANITIES ELECTIVES) |
| For every student who has selected ‘STEM’ as their Learning Area the subjects below are MANDATORY | Each student must do FOUR of the subjects below | Students may also choose ONE OR TWO of the subjects below. | Students may also choose ONE of the subjects below. |
| 1. Mathematics 2. Social Studies 3. English Language 4. PEH (not externally examinable) | ONE OR TWO of the following: 1. Engineering 2. Biomedical Science 3. Aviation & Aerospace 4. Agriculture 5. Manufacturing TWO OR THREE of the following: 1. Robotics 2. Chemistry 3. Biology 4. Physics 5. Additional Mathematics 6. ComputingPEH (elective) | 1. ICT 2. Applied Technology 3. Home Economics 4. Business Studies 5. Art and Design Foundation 6. Art and Design Studio 7. Performing Arts 8. Agricultural Science | 1. Economics 2. Geography 3. Government 4. History 5. Religious Studies 6. Literature in English 7. Ghanaian Languages 8. Arabic 9. French |
