Education Ministry extends deadline of school selection

In a bid to ensure equitable access and inclusivity in secondary education, Ghana’s Ministry of Education has extended the deadline for the 2025 school selection exercise to Wednesday, June 25, 2025. This development follows the Ministry’s decision to integrate private Senior High Schools (SHSs) into the national placement system—marking a pivotal shift in the structure of Ghana’s second-cycle education landscape.

The announcement was made over the weekend by the Ghana Education Service (GES), which cited the need to provide sufficient time for students and guardians to explore a wider array of options. A supplementary register listing eligible private SHSs has been distributed to all basic schools, enabling final-year students to make informed choices as they complete their Basic 

Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

According to the Ministry, this move seeks to ease congestion in public schools, offer affordable alternatives to parents, and strengthen public-private partnerships in the education sector. Officials emphasized that all existing guidelines for school selection remain unchanged, including the criteria for program and school category selection.

Educators have welcomed the extension, urging students to consult teachers and parents in selecting schools that reflect their academic strengths and career aspirations. “This extra time is crucial for evaluating the new options. It's a good opportunity for students to weigh both public and private pathways,” said a headteacher at a Kumasi-based basic school.

Meanwhile, policy analysts are assessing how this inclusion of private SHSs might influence the broader Free SHS framework and government subventions in subsequent academic years.

As the June 25 deadline approaches, the Ministry has reiterated its commitment to transparency, fairness, and equal opportunity for all students—regardless of socio-economic background.