Private schools offer lifeline to 54,985 students denied public SHS placement

Private second-cycle schools in Ghana say they are ready to admit 54,985 candidates who did not qualify for placement in public Senior High Schools under the 2026 Computerised School Selection and Placement System.

The Conference of Heads of Private Second-Cycle Schools said the affected students still had an opportunity to continue their education despite missing out on places in public Free SHS institutions.

In a statement dated 3 September, CHOPSS said accredited private schools across the country had the capacity and willingness to admit the candidates.

It urged the students and their parents or guardians not to treat the failure to secure a public-school placement as the end of their educational journey.

The candidates sat for the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination but, according to CHOPSS, did not meet the requirements for placement under the current arrangements.

The statement does not explain the specific requirements the candidates failed to meet or provide a regional breakdown of those affected.

CHOPSS said private second-cycle schools could offer the academic support, training and guidance needed to help the students pursue their educational and career ambitions.

However, the conference did not provide a list of participating schools, the number of available places or details of the admission process.

It also did not state how much parents would be expected to pay or whether scholarships and other forms of financial assistance would be available.

This distinction could be important for families because students admitted to private schools may not automatically receive the same financial support available under the government’s Free SHS programme.

CHOPSS said private schools had historically provided an alternative for students unable to secure admission to public institutions.

Before the introduction of Free SHS in 2017, public-school placements operated largely through cut-off points, according to the conference. Students who fell outside the required range frequently turned to private schools.

CHOPSS said many of those students received additional academic support and later competed successfully with students from public schools.

It added that some subsequently gained admission to tertiary institutions in Ghana and abroad and were now working in the public and private sectors.

The claims about former students’ academic progression were not accompanied by enrolment or performance data.

The offer comes as thousands of families consider what to do after the release of the 2026 school placement results.

Further information will be required from CHOPSS on participating schools, fees, admission requirements and whether all 54,985 affected candidates can be accommodated.