doris
doris
Find Schools
Events
Saved schools
My account
Parent Guide Parent testimonials Community Transparency Charter About For Schools
Currency
G

German Swiss International School Accra

Ghana, Accra

Save school
Share
Navigate

· Reviewed by · Co-founder & CEO

Independently researched by doris.
Not yet claimed by the school
Claim your profile
The school at a glance
Instructs in German, English
Fees GHS 0 - 16,895
Ages 1 - 14 years
Pupil numbers 130
Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Opened 1966
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum, Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels
Taught languages French, German, English
Strengths Sport, Languages, Performing Arts
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Infant/Toddler Care, Preschool, Kindergarten, Primary School, Middle School, Secondary School
Introduction

German Swiss International School Accra offers a bilingual education that merges the Thuringian framework with Cambridge standards. The curriculum spans Cambridge Primary, Secondary, IGCSE and Cambridge A Levels, with a progression from Primary through Lower Secondary and a Cambridge checkpoint at key stages. English, Mathematics, Science and French as a Foreign Language are core subjects, with the Cambridge pathway supported by a bilingual Building Bridges approach. The school serves ages 1 to 14 and emphasizes multilingualism, practical learning and a structured path to upper secondary qualifications. Founded in 1966 as RMS Swiss School, it became a German school and earned the Excellent German School Abroad seal in 2016; the streams were unified under Building Bridges in 2023/24. The campus is space meeting German standards, with specialist rooms, a science lab, a library and spaces for English and computing. Extracurriculars include Gerald Asamoah Football Academy, arts, music, dance, languages and sustainability initiatives.

The Essentials

German Swiss International School Accra has 130 pupils, instruction in German, English.

Location
Ring Road Central, next to the Nima Police Station, Accra, Ghana

Stages
Nursery to secondary level

Type
German international school offering bilingual education; curriculum combines the Thuringian framework with Cambridge standards

Pupil Nationality Mix
Approximately 130 students from more than 20 nations.

Country affiliation
Germany

School day structure
All-day school; lessons run from 8:00 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. daily (Fridays until 12:30 p.m.). Early supervision from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; lunch available via North Ridge Café; camps offered during holidays.
Diving Deeper

Food Options
Lunch can be ordered from a catering provider (North Ridge Café); alternatively, students may bring a meal from home and have it warmed up by school staff.

Governance and Ownership
GISA is jointly run by the parents, with a five-member board elected at regular intervals; the German Embassy in Accra is represented on the board. The school is supervised by the Central Agency for Schools Abroad (ZfA), the German Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK), and the Federal Office for Foreign Affairs. The Federal Republic of Germany provides financial and personal support to the school through an award contract and annual funding agreements.
Fees

Annual tuition at German Swiss International School Accra ranges from up to GHS 16,895 for 2026/27.

Application / Registration fee

- A one-time registration fee is charged per child at enrolment. Full-payer: EUR 2,000. Self-payer: EUR 1,600. The registration fee must be paid within the stated payment term and is not refundable; receipt of the registration fee guarantees the child's place.

Tuition fees by year group (annual and per semester)

- Nursery / Kindergarten (half-day, until 12:30)
- Full-payer annual: EUR 8,220 — Per semester (half) EUR 4,110.
- Self-payer annual: EUR 6,570 — Per semester EUR 3,285.

- Nursery / Kindergarten (all-day, until 15:45)
- Full-payer annual: EUR 10,230 — Per semester EUR 5,115.
- Self-payer annual: EUR 8,190 — Per semester EUR 4,095.

- Primary School (Classes 1–4)
- Full-payer annual: EUR 13,865 — Per semester EUR 6,932.50.
- Self-payer annual: EUR 9,240 — Per semester EUR 4,620.

- Secondary School (Classes 5–10)
- Full-payer annual: EUR 16,895 — Per semester EUR 8,447.50.
- Self-payer annual: EUR 11,255 — Per semester EUR 5,627.50.

- Sibling discount (self-payer tariff): the school fee for the third child is charged at 50% of the self-payer rate; from the fourth child onwards the fee is 25% of the self-payer rate (applies when first and second child are enrolled at the same time).

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Tuition is invoiced for the entire school year. Half of the invoiced amount is due on 1 August and the second half on 30 November. Invoices and correspondence are sent by e‑mail. An automatic 3% increase is applied at the start of each new school year as per the school's approved policy.

- If enrolment begins or care-level changes mid-year, the school fee is calculated pro rata on a monthly basis and is due within two weeks of invoicing. Deregistration must be made in writing; the notice period is three months to the end of the respective semester, with published deadlines for semester and year-end cancellations.

- A late payment fee of EUR 200 will be charged after the second written reminder. Continued non-payment may lead to suspension of services (including withholding of report cards), disenrolment, and possible legal collection of outstanding fees.

Boarding fees

- The school operates as a day / full-day school and does not charge boarding fees. No boarding provision is offered.

Other costs and additional charges

- Costs for lunch, after‑school activities, school trips, and work/stationery materials are billed separately and are not included in the annual tuition figures. Lunch is optional and is arranged and settled separately with the school's caterer.

- Extra‑curricular activity fees and optional program costs are charged in addition to tuition and appear on separate invoices.

Refunds and deregistration obligations

- The registration fee is non‑refundable. For short-term enrolments (six months or less), half of the registration fee is charged. Deregistration requires written notice with a three‑month notice period to the end of the semester; cancellation deadlines apply. Tuition obligations and invoicing rules apply through the notice period and published deadlines.

Fee payment options and currency policy

- Fees are structured in Euros but may be paid in EUR, GHS (Ghanaian cedi), or USD. Bank details are provided on invoices for payment. For invoices issued in GHS or USD, the monthly exchange rate applied is the Bank of Ghana monthly average set on the first day of each month; outstanding amounts not settled within that month will be revalued using the next month's rate. Installment arrangements in hardship cases may be agreed in writing before invoice due dates.

Summary of sanctions for late or unpaid fees

- Reminders are issued for delayed payments; a late fee of EUR 200 is charged after the second reminder. Unpaid arrears can result in suspension of benefits, withholding of report cards, disenrolment, and potential legal action to recover debts. Special arrangements to pay by instalments may be considered in justified hardship cases but must be agreed before the invoiced due date.
Academics

German Swiss International School Accra teaches Bespoke Curriculum, Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels for students aged 1 to 14.

Curriculum
Cambridge Curriculum at German International School, Accra focuses on English, Mathematics, Science, and French as a Foreign Language. It provides a structured pathway from Primary through Lower Secondary, with Cambridge Primary Checkpoint in Class 6 and Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint in Class 9. After Lower Secondary, students progress to the Cambridge Upper Secondary programme, leading to IGCSE and Cambridge International A Levels. The Thuringian education framework underpins the school's education and, in addition to Cambridge, Hauptschule or Realschule qualifications and the transition to upper secondary can be pursued; a Cambridge intermediate examination is available in Year 7 or 8.

Student Teacher Ratio
About 130 students are taught by 14 teachers, with a total teaching staff of 21 (7 educators and 14 teachers) in the 2025/26 school year, giving roughly a 9:1 ratio for teachers.

Exam Results
Cambridge results: an average score of 37 points, well above the global average of 33.

Higher Education Progression
After completing Cambridge Upper Secondary, students progress to the Cambridge Upper Secondary programme and pursue IGCSE and Cambridge International A Levels, qualifications recognised by universities around the world.

Gifted and Talented
GISA provides a four-hour weekly support programme in all primary classes for personalised learning, with small groups and targeted help in German or Math, focusing on strengths and talents. The Excellence Scholarship was launched in 2025.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school has a Student Council (SMV) elected by pupils to represent student interests and enrich school life. The motto 'Building Bridges' guides student dialogue and collaboration with teachers and parents. Each class elects class representatives and runs class council activities to involve students in decision-making. A buddy mentoring system helps new students settle in, supporting social integration. The Harmony program creates a safe and inclusive environment where diversity is embraced, empathy is prioritized, and positive social behavior is fostered.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school provides a GISA Support Programme in primary classes. It runs a four-hour weekly targeted learning support in German or Math. The sessions are delivered in small groups to meet each child where they are and tailor instruction. The aim is to recognise individual needs and empower growth, creating space for development, achievement, and a genuine love of learning.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school operates a bilingual profile (German-English) and can enroll students with no prior German knowledge. English is used in instruction, and the Cambridge Curriculum covers English as a core subject and French as a Foreign Language. The bilingual profile is supported by the school's language offerings and structure.

Mental Wellbeing
Wellbeing is integrated through Harmony's safe and inclusive environment and emphasis on empathy. A buddy system and class council activities promote positive social interactions and belonging. The protection concept translates wellbeing principles into daily life via class and school rules and the 'feel-good-group.'

Safeguarding
The protection concept provides a safeguarding framework that is applied through class and school rules and the 'feel-good-group' to protect pupils.
Parent Experience

History
Founded in 1966 as RMS Swiss School in Accra by the Swiss community and named after Swiss missionary Friedrich August Ramseyer. It began with 23 students and two teachers and soon added a secondary level, with a kindergarten and an attached hostel to support students from remote areas. For many years it was the only Swiss school in Africa. In 2012 it relinquished recognition as a Swiss international school and became a German international school with a bilingual curriculum based on the Thuringian Education Plan, later adopting the current name German International School Accra (Deutsche Internationale Schule Accra). In 2016 it earned the Excellent German School Abroad seal, and from 2020/21 the two streams were merged into a unified bilingual concept under the Building Bridges guiding principle introduced in 2023/24.

Community
The school has an active community with student involvement and an ongoing events calendar. The SMV elects a new student council at the start of each school year, with liaison teachers guiding the council to enrich school life and advocate for students, including involvement in selecting a catering provider and adopting the year's motto Building Bridges. The events calendar includes the GISA Cup – Kids Edition, Ghana Day – Celebrating Three Nations Together, and activities such as the Marina Water Park outing for the GISA Teen Club, along with the School Musical. GISA Teen Club and other extracurricular activities provide additional opportunities for student engagement beyond classes.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Two parent representatives are elected at the start of each school year in the individual classes and groups during a parents' evening. They represent the interests of their class and the parent body, collating suggestions and proposals from parents and passing them on to the school management; conversely, they relay important information from the school to the parents. The contact addresses of the parent representatives can be obtained from the school office. The School Board is democratically elected from among the parents and represents the parent body as the school authority, planning long-term school development and the annual budget in coordination with the headmaster, with voluntary membership. A new Board was elected on September 30, 2025, including Beatrice Thiel, Araba Adjei, Gunnar Wegner, Abigail Afari Adane and Robert Lüdtke.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school campus is designed as a 'living space' for children and teenagers, green and colorful. Classrooms and the kindergarten are cheerful and creatively designed. The facilities meet German standards. Numerous specialist rooms for art, music and movement, a school kitchen, the canteen, a science lab, rooms for pre-school, one for English, a computer room and the library complement the facilities. A playground, a basketball court and a football pitch encourage physical activity and can be used for celebrations, cultural and sporting events.

Sports Facilities
The sports facilities include a playground, a basketball court and a football pitch. These facilities support physical activity and school sport and can be used for celebrations and events.

Academic Facilities
Specialist rooms for art, music and movement are available. A science lab is on campus. There are dedicated rooms for English and for computer studies. A preschool room is provided for early years. The library supports learning beyond classroom instruction.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Extracurricular activities are regularly included. External experts are involved in the lessons.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Cambridge Curriculum is offered at GIS Accra, focusing on English, Mathematics, Science, and French as a Foreign Language. There is a Cambridge learning pathway from Primary through Lower Secondary, with Cambridge Primary Checkpoint in Class 6 and Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint in Class 9, progressing to IGCSE and Cambridge International A Levels. English is developed as a core subject within this pathway, supporting students' reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. The school operates with a bilingual, holistic approach to education.

Arts & Creative
The school offers extracurricular activities in languages, sports, music, dance, arts, drumming and technology. The Gerald Asamoah Football Academy is part of the extracurricular program. A school musical and other arts events such as Encanto are part of school life. Extracurricular activities are also open to non-GISA students based on capacity.

Cultural & Language
French as a Foreign Language is taught as a Modern Language within the Cambridge Curriculum. Students' French language development is aligned with CEFR standards. GIS Accra promotes multilingualism within its bilingual school model. A pen pal exchange with a German school illustrates cultural and language exchange opportunities.

Social & Hobbies
Extracurricular activities run Monday to Friday, including languages, sports, music, dance, arts, drumming and technology. GISA Teen Club and weekend activities expand student life (e.g., Marina Water Park trips). The Gerald Asamoah Football Academy provides a sports outlet as part of the after-school program.

Community & Service
Sustainability is a community-focused program, with waste segregation, recycling, an e-waste competition, and solar electricity generation. The school promotes environmental responsibility and engages in garden projects. The SMV and school management collaborate on sustainability and other community initiatives to reduce CO2 footprint. The school's motto Building Bridges guides community engagement.

Leadership & Professional
The school elects a new student council at the start of each school year to represent student interests. The student council represents students and works with teachers and parent representatives to enrich school life. The motto Building Bridges guides student leadership and the school's approach to community life.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Sports and physical activity are provided through programs like the Gerald Asamoah Football Academy. After-school activities run Monday to Friday, offering a range of options including languages, sports, music, dance, arts, drumming and technology. There are holiday camps and ongoing After-school activities such as the GISA Teen Club and weekend activities.
Languages

Language Provision
German and English are taught. The school uses a bilingual German/English approach. In the early learning center, the One Face–One Language principle provides language exposure with activities and morning circles conducted in German and English to support early language development. German classes for beginners are available as part of the language offerings.

Bilingual Teaching
The school offers bilingual German/English instruction from nursery to secondary. It combines the Thuringian curriculum with Cambridge standards in a bilingual setting. An early learning center uses a One Face–One Language principle to expose children to both languages. Morning activities are conducted in German and English depending on the teacher, enabling natural language development.
Reputation

Accreditations
West Africa's only officially recognized German school abroad.
Supervised by the Central Agency for German Schools Abroad (ZfA), the German Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK), and the Federal Office for Foreign Affairs.
The German Embassy in Accra is represented on the board.
Financial support from the Federal Republic of Germany (award contract and annual funding).
The Thuringian educational framework forms the basis of education and the British Cambridge curriculum standards are considered.
Partnerships with ZfA and Cambridge International Education are shown on the school's partner logos.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Read through the documents listed below. The documents include the Admission Form 2025/26, School Fees 2025/26, and Payment Terms 2025/26. If you have questions, please ask.
2. Contact us for an initial meeting to visit the school complex and meet the administration, school and kindergarten management. We can arrange a video-call if you are not on site. The meeting provides an opportunity to tour the facilities and discuss enrollment.
3. Submit the completed registration forms and necessary documents digitally or directly to us on site. Ensure all required documents are included. The registration materials will be reviewed as part of the enrollment process.
4. After checking the forms and documents, an invoice will be sent for the enrollment and registration fee as well as the school fees. The invoice reflects the applicable charges and payment terms. The payment details and due dates are provided with the invoice.
5. Please transfer the invoice amount before the start of school. The school will send you a receipt upon receipt of the invoice. A receipt confirms payment has been received.

Scholarships
Scholarship Information and Criteria. Families with children aged 3 or older are eligible to apply for a scholarship; no prior German language knowledge is required. The scholarship provides a 40% discount on annual school fees; admission and registration fees are not discounted; discounts may change with fee increases. The scholarship is awarded through end of kindergarten/preschool, end of class 4, and until graduation (class 10), with a financial review after each school form. There is no entitlement to a discount and awards depend on budget; documents to be submitted include the admission form with photo, school reports if applicable, pedagogical reports if applicable, birth certificate, IDs for both parents, proof of address, and financial documents; applications should be sent to the German International School Accra.
School Events
The school has not added events
Search for more schools
Search schools in Ghana View all schools in Accra View all schools in Ghana British curriculum schools in Ghana Open days & tours in Accra What is the British curriculum? View all schools Search all schools