In a significant policy shift aimed at expanding access to secondary education and easing congestion in senior high schools, the government has announced that private senior high schools will now be included in the government’s Free Senior High School (SHS) programme as part of efforts to fulfil its campaign promise.

The rollout will take effect from the 2026/2027 academic year.

Deputy Education Minister Dr Clement Apaak explained that integrating private schools will help reduce pressure on the oversubscribed Category A and B public schools.

He added that this integration will also assist in phasing out the controversial double-track system currently in use.

“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 senior high school programme. Engagement has been done, and we are very certain that with the diligence and eagerness of the private schools, they will deliver in their participation,” he stated.

“In fulfilling this manifesto promise, this is going to help us bring an end to the obnoxious double-track system,” he emphasised.

During his campaign for the 2024 elections, President Mahama pledged to include private secondary schools in the programme if elected into office.

Meanwhile, Dr Apaak has appealed to parents to be actively involved in senior high school selection processes for their wards in junior high schools, emphasising its importance.

He said, “Parents are entreated to take a keen interest in this school selection exercise, as this will determine the senior high school their wards will attend after completing the BECE.”

He was explicit about the role of school staff in the selection process, stating, “No head of school or teacher is permitted to fill out the school selection form of any candidate without the consent of the parent or guardian. The school selection form must be signed by the parent or guardian and submitted to the headteacher of the Junior High School where the student attends.”

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Dr Apaak also warned against any breach of this rule: “Headteachers and teachers must not fill out BECE candidates’ school selection forms without parental consent.”

Addressing parents and guardians, he urged, “We expect you to keep a copy of the school selection form.”

"The school selection exercise has seen several modifications over the years, and one of the major reforms is to allow candidates to select Category C schools that have similar proximities to Category A and B schools," he said.

Highlighting recent reforms to the selection process, Dr Apaak noted that candidates can now select Category C schools, similar to Category A and B schools, which are often overcrowded.

He concluded by stressing the importance of selecting Category C schools to help ease the pressure on higher-tier schools: “