Free SHS: Gov’t to send over 150,000 students to 168 private SHSs

The central government as part of an effort to include private Senior High Schools in the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy is set to send over 150,000 students to various private second cycle institutions across the country.

In an interview monitored by Pretertiary.com, the Executive Director of Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS), Enoch Kwasi Gyetuah said students will be assigned to both day and boarding schools among the over 168 currently in operation.

Speaking on Rainbow Radio 87.5 FM’s Nyankonton Mu Nsem Show, he indicated that the government has engaged with the Private School Associations and put before its plan to incorporate private schools into the free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy.

The Private Schools Council Director said that a committee is currently working on the integration of private Senior High Schools in the Free SHS programme, and the government is expected to allocate the numbers for existing schools.

Citing congestion and other challenges in public schools, Obengfo Enoch Kwasi Gyetuah assured that they are fully prepared, with adequate infrastructure and experienced staff saying the move is a step in the right direction.

“I can confidently confirm that the new government has taken steps to incorporate private schools into the free SHS policy. The government informed us that we will be allocated 150,000 students to private schools.

There are congestion issues in our various public schools, and private schools are prepared to assist the government in addressing these challenges.”

In terms of arrangement, he said, “Before you can receive students, you should operate as a private school. The government has informed us of the amount that will be allocated for either a day or a boarder.

So as I am speaking with you, there is a committee working on this and has been tasked to submit their report, and we are optimistic that maybe in a week, the committee will have submitted their report.

But the most important point to state is that our children will be attending private schools under the free SHS policy. We are excited about this news and prepared to support the government in improving the policy.”

The government’s decision to include private second-cycle schools in the Free SHS policy was announced by President John Dramani Mahama speaking to a group of clergymen at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi on November 11, 2024.

“We have determined that private schools at the secondary level have the capacity to accommodate students because of the introduction of the Free SHS. A lot of people have migrated from public schools due to the fee-paying nature of private schools,” Mahama said.

He explained that incorporating private schools into the Free SHS initiative would help alleviate congestion in public secondary schools and ultimately phase out the double-track system.

“We want to extend Free SHS to private schools so that we can ease congestion in public schools, which will help solve the double-track problem,” the 2024 presidential candidate of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) party stated.

During the meeting, Mahama dispelled rumours that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would cancel the Free SHS policy, emphasizing that his administration would maintain it but conduct a review to address challenges.

His Excellency explained that the review is essential due to the increasing number of students, which has placed strain on resources and impacted the policy’s effectiveness.

John Dramani Mahama pledged to expand the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy to include technical education, aiming to equip students with practical skills to enhance job opportunities.