85 Private SHSs to Join Free SHS Programme for 2026/2027 Academic Year
The Government of Ghana is expanding the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) Programme to include 85 private Senior High Schools for the 2026/2027 academic year.
The move is expected to create additional placement opportunities for students following the 2026 Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) exercise, particularly as demand for some public Senior High Schools continues to exceed the available spaces.
The announcement was made by the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Apaak, during a press briefing in Accra on September 7, 2026. The initiative forms part of efforts to use available capacity in the private education sector to expand access to secondary education.
Why 85 Private Schools Are Joining Free SHS
According to the Education Ministry, the inclusion of the 85 private schools is intended to provide more options for students who need placement.
The move is also expected to ease pressure on highly subscribed public Senior High Schools, where the number of candidates selecting certain schools is significantly higher than the available vacancies.
The Ministry has encouraged candidates using the self-placement system to consider participating private SHSs alongside public SHSs, Senior High Technical Schools and Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions.
This means students who did not receive automatic placement into their preferred public schools may have additional options to consider through the placement system.
High Demand for Category A Schools
The expansion comes at a time when the 2026 placement exercise has recorded particularly high demand for Category A schools.
According to figures provided by the Education Ministry, 313,283 candidates selected Category A schools as their first choice, while only 76,417 vacancies were declared in that category.
The figures illustrate the difference between the number of students seeking placement in highly subscribed schools and the number of available spaces in those institutions.
The Ministry has therefore encouraged candidates who are using self-placement to consider the wider range of schools and programmes available rather than limiting their choices to a small number of highly demanded institutions.
More Placement Opportunities for Students
The participation of private schools gives candidates another group of institutions to consider during the placement process.
The Ministry says the initiative is part of a broader strategy to leverage existing capacity within the private education sector.
For students who were not automatically matched with their preferred schools, participating private SHSs could provide an alternative pathway to continue their secondary education under the Free SHS Programme.
The Ministry has also advised candidates to consider Senior High Technical Schools and Technical and Vocational institutions where appropriate.
What Students Using Self-Placement Should Know
Candidates who are eligible for self-placement are being encouraged to examine all available options carefully.
Rather than focusing only on schools with very high demand, students can consider participating private schools and other institutions with available vacancies.
The objective is to help more qualified candidates secure placements and reduce pressure on schools where demand significantly exceeds available spaces.
The 2026 CSSPS exercise recorded 527,932 successful placements out of 604,567 qualified candidates, according to figures released by the Education Ministry.
School Placement Remains Free
The Education Ministry has also issued a warning to parents and candidates concerning individuals who demand money in exchange for securing or changing school placements.
The Ministry says school placement is free and there is no legitimate arrangement under which parents or candidates should pay an individual to secure a placement.
Parents have been advised not to give money to people claiming to be officials of the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service, Ghana TVET Service, schools or other intermediaries in exchange for placement assistance.
Anyone who encounters a demand for money in connection with placement has been advised to report the matter to the appropriate authorities.
Placement Resolution Centres Available
The Ministry has established placement resolution centres to assist students and parents who experience genuine difficulties with the CSSPS process.
The GNAT Hall in Accra has been designated as the National Placement Resolution Centre, while candidates and parents are encouraged to first seek assistance through GES or Ghana TVET Service offices at the regional level.
Technical teams have also been deployed to help resolve placement-related concerns.
These arrangements are intended to reduce the difficulties parents and students may face when trying to resolve legitimate placement problems.
Private Schools and the Expansion of Free SHS
The participation of private Senior High Schools represents an expansion of the role of private institutions within the Free SHS programme.
The government had previously announced plans to bring private SHSs into the programme as part of efforts to increase capacity and support the eventual transition away from the double-track system.
The 2026/2027 academic year therefore marks an important stage in the implementation of the arrangement, with 85 private schools now participating.
What This Means for Parents
For parents whose children are going through the 2026 placement process, the inclusion of private schools means there are additional institutions to consider where vacancies are available.
Parents should carefully review the placement options presented through the official CSSPS process and consider the school’s location, programme and available accommodation arrangements before making a decision.
They should also avoid relying on unofficial individuals who promise to secure a particular school in exchange for payment.
The Ministry has made it clear that legitimate CSSPS placement does not require payment to an intermediary.
What Happens Next?
The participating private schools will form part of the available placement options for the 2026/2027 academic year.
Candidates who are eligible for self-placement can consider these schools alongside available public SHSs, SHTSs and TVET institutions.
As the placement and reopening process continues, the Ministry and GES are also handling outstanding cases through the various resolution centres.
The latest expansion is intended to help ensure that more qualified students can access secondary education while reducing pressure on schools with limited vacancies.
Conclusion
The Government of Ghana has announced that 85 private Senior High Schools will participate in the Free SHS Programme for the 2026/2027 academic year.
The initiative is designed to create additional placement opportunities and make use of existing capacity within the private education sector.
It comes as the 2026 CSSPS exercise faces strong demand for some public schools, particularly Category A institutions.
Students who are using self-placement have been encouraged to consider the participating private schools alongside public SHSs, Senior High Technical Schools and TVET institutions.
For parents and students, the key message is to use the official placement system, consider the available options carefully and avoid paying anyone who claims they can secure or alter a placement for a fee.
