The Ghana National Council for Private Schools (GNACOPS) has announced that the government will allocate a tentative tuition fee of GHS 1,500 per semester for each student admitted to private Senior High Schools (SHSs) under the pilot phase of the Free SHS programme.
This initiative is set to commence in the 2025/2026 academic year and aims to expand access to secondary education by incorporating selected private schools into the scheme.
Speaking on TV3’s Hot Issues monitored by Kumasimail, GNACOPS Executive Director Enoch Nana Gyetuah described the initiative as a “welcome and attractive arrangement” that has generated excitement among private school owners eager to join the programme.
He said “The arrangement is an attractive arrangement for these private SHS. The private school owners are very happy with this initiative and arrangement, he said.”
According to him, this pilot phase is designed to ease the burden on overcrowded public schools and expand access to quality secondary education across the country.
“Government is going to supply us with a tentative amount of GHS 1,500 for tuition, per semester,” Gyetuah confirmed, underscoring the government’s commitment to supporting private institutions in this historic collaboration.
To guarantee a smooth rollout, he revealed that private schools have already submitted their available spaces to the Ministry of Education.
He remarked “The schools (private) have already declared their vacancies for the Free SHS and that has been sent to the Ministry of Education.”
This data will guide the placement of Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates, ensuring that student numbers align with each school’s capacity and preventing overcrowding.
“The placement will be done in a way that the number of students will match the capacity of the private schools,” Gyetuah explained, highlighting the meticulous planning behind the initiative.
This pilot phase is part of the government’s broader strategy to alleviate congestion in public SHSs and fulfill its campaign promise to extend the Free SHS policy to the private sector.
It reflects a commitment to equitable and inclusive access to secondary education across Ghana.
The initiative is expected to accommodate over 150,000 students in private SHSs nationwide, including both day and boarding schools, thereby addressing the challenges faced by public schools operating under the double-track system.
Source: www.kumasimail.com /Kwadwo Owusu
