Accra, 14 June 2025 – In a decisive move set to reshape Ghana’s secondary education landscape, the Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced that the deadline for the 2025 Senior High School (SHS) selection process is now Wednesday, June 25, 2025. This extension provides final-year Junior High School (JHS) students much-needed additional time to assess and choose from an expanded roster of schools, following the inclusion of some selected private SHSs into the national placement system.

This adjustment follows a landmark policy shift by the government, which will see approved private SHSs joining the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme starting in the 2026/2027 academic year. The decision is designed to ease the mounting congestion in public SHSs, a pressure point that has persisted since the introduction of the Free SHS policy in 2017, while broadening opportunities for students across the country.

In a circular issued on June 13, GES directed Regional Directors of Education to immediately inform all Metro, Municipal, and District Education Directorates. Heads of JHSs across Ghana are now tasked with ensuring that every final-year student is aware of the new deadline as well as the updated school register, which now features the recently approved private institutions.

GES has stressed that the overall selection process and its guidelines remain unchanged, with the sole modification being the incorporation of private schools. The supplementary register, released alongside the circular, offers detailed profiles of these institutions, covering aspects such as academic programs, facilities, and admission requirements, to help students make informed decisions. Authorities are urging students to consult with teachers, parents, and guardians as part of a strategic planning process that will ideally lead to placements best suited to their academic and future career aspirations.

Broadening Access & Easing Overcrowding

The inclusion of private SHSs represents more than just an administrative update—it is a significant policy innovation intended to distribute student enrolments more evenly across Ghana’s education system. With public SHSs often exceeding capacity due to increased enrolment spurred by free education policies, the integration of private institutions aims to relieve the pressures on public facilities, improve learning environments, and foster healthy competition that could drive both academic and operational standards upward.

Analysts note that this move could spark transformational changes in how secondary education is delivered in the country. While many stakeholders are optimistic about the increased access and quality that the inclusion of private SHSs might bring, there remains a call for vigilant oversight to ensure that these institutions meet the rigorous requirements expected under the Free SHS programme. Questions regarding financing arrangements, quality control, and equitable access continue to be discussed by education experts and policy advocates.

What Lies Ahead

The decision to extend the selection deadline until June 25 comes at a time when discussions about the future of Ghana’s educational framework are intensifying. As of today, early market reactions and public commentary indicate that stakeholders—from education administrators to parents—view the extension as a welcome relief that should reduce the stress faced by final-year students. In addition, many see this as part of a broader initiative to foster a resilient public-private partnership in delivering secondary education.

Moving forward, the supplementary register will play a crucial role in guiding students during the decision-making process. It is expected that future policy reviews will address any emerging challenges related to resource management, school performance metrics, and the expansion of quality assurance measures across both public and private institutions.

In summary, the GES’s extension of the SHS selection deadline not only grants added time for careful decision-making but also signals a deliberate, forward-thinking approach to reforming Ghana’s secondary education system. As the new arrangements take effect, continuous monitoring and transparent dialogue among all education stakeholders will be essential to realize the full potential of these reforms.