85 Private SHSs Join Free SHS
The Ministry of Education has announced that 85 private Senior High Schools will participate in the Free Senior High School Programme for the 2026/2027 academic year.
The announcement was made at a press conference on the release of the 2026 Computerised School Selection and Placement System results on Sunday, September 7, 2026.
According to the Ministry, the government is broadening the opportunities available to candidates by leveraging existing capacity within the private education sector.
For the 2026/2027 academic year, 85 private Senior High Schools are participating in the Free SHS Programme.
The Ministry said this move provides more options, more capacity and more pathways for candidates through the placement system and forms part of the government’s strategy to expand access, utilise available educational infrastructure, and reduce pressure on highly subscribed public schools.
Candidates undertaking self-placement have therefore been encouraged to consider the participating private Senior High Schools alongside available public SHSs, SHTSs and Technical and Vocational Institutes.
The Ministry explained that the self-placement portal is now live and provides an important pathway for candidates who could not be automatically matched with their original choices, as well as for candidates with a score of 9 in English Language and/or Mathematics who are now allowed to select available schools.
In selecting a school, candidates are advised to consider what programmes are offered, where the school is located, whether there is an available vacancy and what best suits their educational needs.
On the issue of payment, the Ministry issued a strong caution to parents, guardians and candidates to beware of scammers.
It stressed that school placement is absolutely free and that there is no legitimate protocol placement that requires the payment of money.
The Ministry warned the public to be wary of persons who claim to be officials of the Ministry, the Ghana Education Service, the Ghana TVET Service, a school official, an intermediary or any other third party promising to secure or change a placement for a fee.
The Ministry further stated that placement is determined solely by established criteria, candidates’ choices, program requirements and available vacancies.
It urged the public to report anyone who demands or solicits money in exchange for a promise to secure, alter or influence a candidate’s placement immediately to the appropriate law-enforcement authorities, including the Ghana Police Service or the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
This year’s placement saw 623,072 candidates sit for the BECE, with 527,932 successfully placed, representing 87.3 per cent of qualified candidates.
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