The Conference of Heads of Private Second-cycle Schools (CHOPSS) has pledged not to take for granted the inclusion of 25 private senior high schools (SHSs) in the 2025 school selection process for Junior High School (JHS) graduates under the Free SHS programme.

According to CHOPSS, the government had no plans to include private schools this year, but it has become possible due to the relentless efforts of the association.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Burning Issues, the Head of Communications for CHOPSS, Naphtali Kyei-Baffour, assured that they will not take the opportunity for granted but will strive to make the programme attractive.

He believes this will create room for more private schools to join the programme and help boost enrolment. “Parents will surely ask for value for money, even though it is the government that is bearing the cost. So if we do not make it more attractive, a time will come when private schools will be listed on the portal, but will not be selected.

“The inclusion of private schools in the Free SHS is not a recipe for lowering standards in private schools, but rather an opportunity for them to showcase what they can do, what they have done, and what they are doing,” he noted.

These approved schools are listed under Category E and operate as day institutions across the country.

Responding to this, Mr Kyei-Baffour noted that CHOPSS acknowledges the challenges that come with boarding status.

“Even though some of the schools have boarding facilities, we are also aware of the challenges that come with feeding. To avoid that in the meantime, all students coming to any of the private schools will come as day students,” he said.

Mr Kyei-Baffour explained that parents who would opt for boarding for their wards would have to arrange with the school authorities and bear the extra cost, because the government will only be paying for day status.