GNAPS COMMENDS GOVERNMENT FOR INCLUDING PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN FREE SHS POLICY AND URGES FULL REMOVAL OF 30% PRIORITY PLACEMENT
The Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) commends the Ministry of Education for its progressive decision to include private senior high schools in the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme. This demonstrates good faith and asignificant step toward inclusive education and recognizes the valuable contributions of private institutions to national development.
We also welcome the government’s decision to revise the 30% priority placement policy for Category A public SHSs, reducing it from 30% to 15%. While GNAPS continues to advocate for the complete abolition of this policy; which we believe creates inequity in access to top-tier SHSs, we acknowledge this reduction as a gesture of goodwill and a move in the right direction.
It reflects the government’s willingness to engage meaningfully with non-state education stakeholders and to promote inclusive governance in national education planning.
The original 30% priority placement policy, implemented without prior consultation with private sector operators, has had devastating effects on private basic schools across the
country. Many have faced closure or are on the brink of folding due to reduced enrolments and limited transition opportunities for their students.
This policy reserves 30% of placements in top-tier (Category A) public senior high schools exclusively for public school graduates, leaving the remaining 70% to be shared by both public and private school students. Such a system is inherently discriminatory and undermines the principle of equal opportunity for all Ghanaian children, regardless of the type of school they attend.
GNAPS reiterates its call for the full abolition of this policy to ensure that all students; public or private, are given equal access to quality education based solely on merit. We look forward to ongoing, constructive engagement with the Ministry of Education as we work together to successfully integrate private schools into the Free SHS policy and build a fair, inclusive and sustainable education system for all.
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Prof. Damasus Tuurosong,
President.
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