The announcement was made by the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Clement Apaak, during a press briefing in Accra on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.

According to him, this decision marks a significant step in the government’s broader education reform strategy and aligns with the ruling party’s campaign promises.

“As part of our campaign promise, we have been working diligently to bring on board private senior high schools in the delivery of the Free SHS programme,” Dr. Apaak stated.

He explained that the policy, which had long been under consideration, is now set for implementation following extensive consultations with private school stakeholders. The goal is to leverage the infrastructure and resources of private schools to absorb more students, thereby reducing congestion in public schools and addressing the operational challenges caused by the double-track calendar.

“We believe strongly that in fulfilling this manifesto campaign promise, this is going to serve as an artery in helping us bring an end to the double-track system,” he added.

Dr. Apaak noted that many private schools have expressed interest and willingness to meet the standards set under the Free SHS framework.

Their inclusion is expected to ensure a more equitable distribution of educational opportunities, especially in areas where public school capacity is limited.

The initiative was announced alongside the launch of revised school selection guidelines for this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates.

The updated Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) now allows candidates to select seven schools instead of six, with the process running from May 27 to June 11, 2025.

Candidates are to choose one school from Category A, not more than two from Category B, and the remaining from Category C. TVET applicants can select all five schools from TVET institutions, following the same category breakdown.

Dr. Apaak emphasized that this new direction in policy reflects the government’s commitment to removing barriers to access and ensuring parity between students in both public and private institutions.

The Ministry has pledged to continue monitoring and evaluating the rollout of the expanded Free SHS programme to maintain quality and integrity as more schools come on board.

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