Ghana Expands Free SHS Programme To Include 60 Private Schools For 2025/2026 Academic Year

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has granted approval to sixty (60) private senior high schools (SHS) to join the government’s Free Senior High School (FSHS) initiative starting in the 2025/2026 academic year. This decision, outlined in an official memo dated 11 July 2025 and signed by Prince C. Agyemang-Duah, Director of the Schools and Instructions Division at GES, aligns with a directive from the Minister of Education and reinforces an earlier communication issued on 13 June.

The expansion is part of ongoing efforts to enhance accessibility and inclusivity under the FSHS policy, a cornerstone of Ghana’s educational reforms since its launch in 2017. Regional Directors have been tasked with disseminating the list of approved private schools to Heads of Basic Schools and Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates via their respective Metro, Municipal, and District Education offices. This step precedes the activation of the online school selection portal administered by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

By incorporating private institutions into the FSHS programme, the government aims to alleviate the growing strain on public SHSs, which have grappled with overcrowding and infrastructure limitations in recent years. Although the names of the selected private schools have not yet been disclosed, education stakeholders have lauded the move as a transformative step toward improving access, particularly in underserved areas.

This strategic inclusion is expected to provide more opportunities for students while ensuring a more balanced distribution of resources across the country’s secondary education landscape. Further details on the implementation process are anticipated in the coming weeks.

Source: GhanaFeed.Com