The Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Apaak, has revealed that the government will extend the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy to private senior high schools.

Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Tuesday, May 27, Dr Apaak said the move was part of the government's long-term strategy to ease pressure on public schools and ultimately bring an end to the double-track system.

He noted that the inclusion of private institutions in the Free SHS programme had been on the policy agenda since the current administration assumed office and would now be implemented following extensive consultations.

“As part of our campaign promise, we have been working diligently to bring on board private senior high schools in the delivery of the Free SHS programme.,” he stated.

“Meetings have been held, engagements have been done, and we are very certain that with the diligence we expect from our side and the eagerness of the private schools to participate, the private schools will deliver in their participation.

“We believe strongly that in fulfilling this manifesto campaign promise, this is going to serve as an artery in helping us bring an end to the double-track system,” he added.

Dr Apaak explained that the decision aligns with the ruling party’s manifesto commitment to broaden access to secondary education. He described it as a critical step towards resolving congestion in public schools and ensuring that every eligible student gains admission without delay.

According to him, the Ministry has received encouraging feedback from private schools, many of which have expressed readiness to meet the standards and requirements of the Free SHS framework.

He added that this collaboration would not only help expand capacity but also ensure a more equitable distribution of educational opportunities across the country.

The Deputy Minister made the remarks during the launch of new guidelines for this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) school selection process. Under the revised format, candidates will now select seven schools instead of the previous six, with the process running from May 27 to June 6.

Dr Apaak stressed that the government’s goal was to eliminate barriers to education and ensure that all Ghanaian students benefit from the same opportunities, whether they attend public or private schools.

He concluded that the Ministry would continue monitoring and evaluating the rollout to ensure that the quality and integrity of the programme are upheld as more institutions come on board.