For the first time, 25 private senior high schools (SHSs) will join Ghana’s Free SHS programme under the 2025 school placement system. The Ministry of Education made this move to increase access to quality secondary education, especially in areas where public SHSs are overstretched.
These newly added schools appear as Category E options in the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS). They are day schools located across all 16 regions. Each offers programmes such as General Arts, General Science, Business, Technical, Visual Arts, Home Economics, and Agriculture.
Prince Agyemang-Duah, Director of the Schools and Instruction Division at the Ghana Education Service (GES), announced that candidates now have until Wednesday, June 25, 2025, to complete their school selections. This deadline extension gives students more time to consider the new options.
This pilot initiative results from a partnership between the Ministry, GES, and the Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS). Together, they aim to ease pressure on public SHSs, especially in densely populated areas where demand exceeds available spaces.
The Ministry explained that this step reflects its ongoing commitment to fairness and wider access in education. Furthermore, it helps bridge infrastructure gaps while offering more placement flexibility for Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates.
As part of the rollout, selected private schools will undergo training and assessments to align with Free SHS standards. The Ministry and GNACOPS will offer technical support, monitor progress, and guide implementation to ensure quality outcomes.
If successful, this pilot could pave the way for even more private schools to join the Free SHS programme in the years ahead.
