The Conference of Heads of Private Second-Cycle Schools (CHOPSS) has extended a crucial lifeline to the 54,985 candidates who were unable to secure placement into Senior High Schools (SHSs) under the 2026 Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS), assuring them that private second-cycle schools across the country are ready to provide an alternative route for continuing their education .
Scope of the Crisis
The number of unplaced candidates represents approximately 9 percent of the 620,000 students who sat the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). While 565,000 candidates qualified to participate in the placement exercise, the remaining students were disqualified primarily due to failing either English Language or Mathematics—a requirement that overrides overall performance in other subjects .
Sherif Sulemana, Coordinator of the CSSPS, revealed that only 35 percent of candidates obtained aggregates between six and 24, with just 17 percent—approximately 107,000 students—achieving the stronger aggregates of six to 18 . The situation is further complicated by severe oversubscription in prestigious schools; for example, over 36,000 applications were submitted for the combined 2,100 vacancies at Aburi Girls’ and Achimota School .
CHOPSS Response and Assurance
In a statement issued on September 3, CHOPSS emphasized that failure to secure a placement in a public Free SHS institution should not be interpreted as the end of a student’s educational journey. The Conference urged affected students and their parents not to lose hope, stressing that accredited private second-cycle schools have both the capacity and willingness to absorb these students and provide them with quality education .
“We are ready and willing to absorb these students and provide them with quality second-cycle education and the opportunity to pursue their academic aspirations,” the statement read .
Historical Role of Private Schools
CHOPSS recalled that before the introduction of the Free Senior High School policy in 2017, private second-cycle schools routinely absorbed candidates who fell outside the cut-off points for admission into public institutions. Many of these students received the necessary academic support, training, and guidance to improve their performance and develop the confidence and skills required to compete successfully with their counterparts in public schools .
A significant number of students who began their second-cycle education in private institutions subsequently gained admission to tertiary institutions both in Ghana and abroad, with many now making meaningful contributions to Ghana’s development across both the public and private sectors .
Government Partnership and Policy Context
The private schools’ offer comes amid broader government efforts to formalize private sector participation in secondary education. In October 2025, the Ministry of Education signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) and CHOPSS to include private second-cycle schools in the Free SHS programme .
Under this arrangement, 70 participating private schools declared over 44,000 vacancies, and 25,000 candidates have already been placed in these institutions. The government has committed to providing a stipend of at least GH¢250 per student to support their transition into the private system .
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu emphasized that this partnership is critical in the government’s plan to phase out the double-track system and ensure no child is left behind .
Practical Support for Affected Families
CHOPSS has called on its accredited member schools to consider offering discounted and affordable fees where possible, making private second-cycle education more accessible to affected families . The association urged parents and guardians not to despair, encouraging them to contact accredited CHOPSS member schools in their areas to enquire about available programmes, admission opportunities, and applicable fees. CHOPSS’s Secretariat is available to provide information on accredited institutions and assist parents in identifying schools within their catchment areas .
Looking Ahead
The Conference expressed confidence that collaboration between private schools, parents, guardians, and other education stakeholders could transform the current placement challenge into an opportunity for the affected candidates to secure “a new beginning and a brighter future” .
As Ghana continues to grapple with the educational infrastructure challenges that led to the double-track system, the integration of private second-cycle schools into the national placement framework represents a significant step toward ensuring equitable access to quality secondary education for all Ghanaian students.
