Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, Kofi Asare, has told parents that the government cannot guarantee their children’s placement in preferred senior high schools without competitive grades.

In an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, September 23, Mr. Asare explained that the country has more than enough space to absorb the 590,000 candidates who sat for this year’s BECE. However, one major challenge with the placement system is the perception that parents and students have an absolute right to choose schools. In reality, such rights are relative within a merit-based system.

He added that gaining admission into competitive institutions like Labone SHS requires strong grades, particularly for sought-after courses such as science. His comment comes against the backdrop of growing frustration among parents over the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) placement exercise.

“So parents should understand that it is not possible for any government to serve them with the choice of their school for their wards. The only way we can ensure equitable access to second-cycle schools is to ensure that all schools, regardless of their categories, are patronised by parents.”

“So, your chance of going there is not a matter of choosing but also making a competitive grade with respect to the course you are choosing, whether you want to be a day student or not. These two things determine the extent of competition,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Education Minister, Dr. Clement Apaak, has emphasized that multiple factors influence how students are assigned to specific Senior High Schools (SHSs).

According to an official statement signed and issued by the Deputy Minister on Saturday, August 30, the Ministry noted that the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS), which designates SHS graduates to various schools, considers the aggregate and raw scores of students, the availability of vacancies in schools, and the popularity of specific programmes.

The statement further clarified that the Ministry does not demand or accept rewards from parents or guardians to guarantee students’ placement in schools of their choice, contrary to speculation.

“The Ministry confirms that this information is not only false but also maliciously misleading. The placement is based on a combination of factors, including aggregate and raw scores, availability of vacancies in the various schools and programmes of study. Limited vacancies and high competition can affect placement. The Ministry unequivocally states that no form of payment or inducement is required or solicited from parents, guardians, or their representatives for the purpose of securing placement.

“All interactions with the Ministry and Ghana Education Service (GES) officials are expected to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and transparency. The public is advised to be cautious and report any cases of extortion or bribery attempts related to student placements. Stakeholders are encouraged to report miscreants to the nearest police station," parts of the statement read.

The Ministry’s clarification was a rebuttal to claims that the placement system depends solely on a rigid score system to place students in Senior High Schools. The Ministry has described such claims as misleading and inaccurate.

According to information released by the Ghana Education Service (GES), the 2025/2026 academic year officially commences on September 17.

After placement, students are expected to report to their schools and begin classes between October 18 and October 20, 2025.

SHS 3 students will reopen on October 11, 2025, and remain in school until February 27, 2026, covering 18 weeks. They will return on March 13, 2026, for a 14-week session ending June 21, 2026, ahead of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), scheduled for April 20 to June 20, 2026.

SHS 1 and 2 students will start their first session on October 18, 2025, and break on February 27, 2026, after 17 weeks. They will resume on May 4, 2026, for a 16-week session ending August 21, 2026, marking the close of the academic year.

The Transitional Calendar refers to a temporary academic schedule designed to bridge the gap between the old double-track system and the new single-track system. Under this calendar, first-year students will also report on October 18, 2025, and stay until January 30, 2026, before proceeding on a short break.

Their second term will then begin on March 16 and run until June 12, 2026, with additional breaks, including four weeks of off-site learning to help manage overcrowding in school facilities.

Second-year students in transitional schools will reopen on January 5, 2026, and vacate on May 18, 2026, with five weeks of online learning. They will then resume later in September for the final stretch of the academic year.

Final-year students in transitional schools will begin on October 27, 2025, for a 14-week session before the Christmas break, resuming in February for an 18-week preparation period before sitting for the WASSCE.

GES also highlighted some significant breaks in the new timetable. The Christmas break will begin on December 20, 2025, and end on January 4, 2026. Vacation for SHS 3 students is slated for February 27 to March 1, 2026, while SHS 1 and 2 students will break from August 21 to August 23, 2026.

GES has also proposed September 11, 2026, as the start date for the 2026/2027 academic year.

In an unrelated development, sixty (60) private schools have been included under the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy. Junior High School (JHS) graduates will be admitted into these private schools, which fall under Category E in the school selection process.

These schools will be accepting applications starting from the 2025/2026 academic year. The new development aligns with the government’s efforts to ease congestion in public SHSs and promote quality education across the country.

In a press release issued on Sunday, July 20, by the Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) and signed by its National Executive Director, Oberto Nana Kwasi Gyetuah, the council described the initiative as a historic and progressive move.

“This progressive move marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s educational transformation journey. It underscores the Government’s commitment to inclusive, collaborative education delivery and reaffirms the important role of private schools in advancing national development goals,” part of the release read.

The council further called on other private schools yet to be listed to remain patient, prepared, and compliant with regulatory standards.

In May, Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Clement Apaak announced that the inclusion forms part of a broader plan to scale up capacity and gradually end the double-track system.

“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. Meetings have been held, engagements have been done, and we are very certain that with the diligence we expect from our side…” he noted.

The double-track system was introduced in 2018 by the erstwhile government to accommodate the surge in student enrollment due to the Free SHS policy, addressing overcrowding in public schools.

Under this system, students were divided into two groups: Green Track and Gold Track, attending school in shifts, with one track in session while the other was on break.

The anticipated extension of the Free SHS policy, according to the Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, is a fulfillment of the government’s manifesto promise. He added that it is a step to ensure eligible students gain admission without delays.

“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," the deputy minister said.

According to him, the Education 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. “…and the eagerness of the private schools to participate, the private schools will deliver in their participation,” he assured.

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