The Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) has called on the government to activate an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy to accommodate 54,985 candidates who were not placed in Senior High Schools (SHSs) following the 2026 Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) exercise.
According to GNACOPS, its 85 member private SHSs currently participating in the Free SHS programme have available vacancies and the capacity to admit the affected candidates.
In a press statement issued on September 3, 2026, the Council said the situation requires urgent intervention to prevent thousands of young people from being left without an immediate pathway to continue their education.
GNACOPS said rather than negotiating a new arrangement, the government should utilise the existing MoU between the government and the Council, which provides the framework for private SHSs to participate in the Free SHS programme.
The Council said its member schools are prepared to admit affected candidates into accredited private SHS programmes across the country and provide remedial and bridging support to address foundational gaps.
It added that the schools are also ready to provide quality instruction aimed at preparing students for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and guide them towards tertiary education and other opportunities.
“Rather than requiring a new negotiation, this calls for government to activate and expand utilisation of the existing MoU without delay,” GNACOPS said.
The Council noted that its 85 participating private schools have already demonstrated the infrastructure, academic capacity and experience needed to deliver education under the Free SHS policy.
GNACOPS therefore urged the Ministry of Education to work with the Ghana Education Service and the CSSPS to direct the affected candidates to available spaces in participating private schools.
It warned that delays in resolving the situation could result in lost academic time for the affected students.
The Council said it is ready to mobilise its member schools immediately upon receiving a directive from government and expressed its willingness to engage the Minister of Education and other relevant stakeholders to finalise arrangements for absorbing the candidates.
GNACOPS stressed that the immediate utilisation of existing vacancies in private SHSs could provide a practical solution to the placement challenge and ensure that the affected students are not left behind.
Read the statement below:
READ ALSO:
CSSPS placement results to be released on Friday – Education Ministry
About 565,000 BECE candidates qualify for SHS placement – CSSPS
