- CHOPSS confirms 25 private SHSs now part of the 2025 Free SHS school placement system
- All students placed in private SHSs will attend as day students; boarding optional at personal cost
- CHOPSS commits to maintaining standards to make private SHSs attractive under Free SHS
The Conference of Heads of Private Second-cycle Schools (CHOPSS) has expressed its deep appreciation for the inclusion of 25 private senior high schools (SHSs) in the 2025 school placement system for Junior High School (JHS) graduates under the Free SHS programme.
According to CHOPSS, the government had not initially planned to include private schools in this year’s selection process, but persistent advocacy by the association made the breakthrough possible.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Burning Issues, CHOPSS Head of Communications, Naphtali Kyei-Baffour, emphasized that the opportunity would not be taken lightly. He stated the group is committed to making private SHSs appealing options for prospective students and their families.
“This is a chance to demonstrate the value private schools offer,” he said. “If we don’t maintain high standards, there’s a risk that schools will appear on the selection portal but receive no applications—even though the cost is covered by the government, parents still expect quality.”
He stressed that the inclusion of private schools in the Free SHS programme should not be seen as a dilution of academic standards, but rather as an opportunity for private institutions to showcase their achievements and capabilities.
The 25 private schools included are listed under Category E and operate as day schools nationwide.
Addressing concerns about boarding, Mr. Kyei-Baffour clarified that, while some of the schools have boarding facilities, all students placed in private SHSs under the Free SHS initiative will be enrolled as day students due to feeding and accommodation constraints.
“For now, students placed in private schools will attend as day students,” he explained. “Parents who wish to board their wards must make separate arrangements with the schools and cover the associated costs, as the government only funds day-student placements.”
