The Ministry of Education has officially added 25 private senior high schools (SHSs) to the 2025 school selection process under the government’s flagship Free SHS programme.
This historic inclusion marks the first time private SHSs have been integrated into the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS), providing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates with more choices as they transition to second-cycle education.
The approved schools, classified under Category E, are co-educational day institutions strategically located across the country’s 16 regions.
They offer a variety of academic programmes including General Arts, General Science, Business, Technical, Visual Arts, Home Economics, and Agriculture.
A statement signed by Mr. Prince Agyemang-Duah, Director of the Schools and Instruction Division of GES, explained that the extension was necessary to give candidates and their parents adequate time to review the updated list and make well-informed choices.
Below are the 25 private SHSs added to the 2025 selection list under the Free SHS programme:
| School Name | Location |
| Cosmos Senior High School | Ejura |
| Joy Standard College | Kumasi |
| Elite College, Kumasi | Kumasi |
| Ken Hammer Senior High Tech Sch | Goaso |
| Mist Senior High School | Yeji |
| St. Luke SHS | Mankessim |
| St. Richards SHS | Assin Foso |
| Mount Hebron College | Dunkwa-On-Offin |
| Obama College | Ekumfi Swedru |
| Samtet Oxford Senior High School | Atechem |
| Sammo SHS (New Site) | Mankessim |
| Modern Senior High School | Kpong |
| King David Comm. College | Kpong |
| Somanya Senior High/Tech School | Somanya |
| Ideal College | East Legon |
| Action Senior High/Tech School | Madina |
| City Business Senior High | Mateheko |
| Delcam SHS | Adentan |
| St. Andrews SHS | Teshie |
| Business College International | Sagnrigu |
| Regentropfen Senior High School | Bongo |
| Ideal College, Wa | Wa |
| Wallahs Academy SHS | Ho |
| Golden Gate SHS | Shama |
| Otoo Memorial | Bibiani |
According to the GES, the 2025 school placement is primarily based on the raw scores obtained by candidates, not fixed aggregate cut-off points, as widely speculated on social media.
In a public statement, GES emphasized that a number of factors influence placement decisions, including:
- Raw scores of candidates – the primary determinant of placement.
- Level of subscription and competitiveness of the chosen school.
- Competitiveness of the preferred programme within the school.
- Candidate aggregate as a supporting factor.
- Residential preferences (day or boarding).
- Catchment area considerations, which sometimes give candidates within a geographical area an advantage.
GES warned the public against relying on so-called “cut-off marks” being circulated online, describing such information as false and misleading.
The service assured parents, guardians, and students of a transparent, fair, and merit-based placement system that ensures equal opportunity for all candidates.
No comment yet, add your voice below!