In a major milestone for Ghana’s education sector, the government has officially extended the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy to include 60 private schools. This marks the first time private institutions have been brought under the flagship policy, which was initially launched by the Akufo-Addo administration in September 2017.
The decision to incorporate private SHSs into the Free SHS programme aims to improve access to quality secondary education, especially in regions where public schools are overstretched. With increasing student populations putting pressure on public institutions, this move is expected to ease congestion and offer more placement options for students across the country.
The Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) has welcomed the development, describing it as a significant step toward expanding quality educational access. The Council expressed its appreciation to the government for recognizing the role private schools can play in achieving broader educational goals.
GNACOPS affirmed its commitment to collaborating with government agencies to ensure that the interests of private schools are reflected in the implementation of the policy.
In a statement, the Council assured stakeholders that efforts are ongoing to strengthen the partnership. “The ultimate goal is to include all qualified and quality-assured private senior high schools in future cohorts,” it said.
GNACOPS also encouraged private schools to remain patient, well-prepared, and compliant with regulatory requirements to improve their chances of being considered in subsequent phases of the policy’s expansion.
Parents and guardians are advised to confirm the list of approved private SHSs through official channels, including the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service (GES), or the GNACOPS website.
Here is a list of the schools
