International Day of Education: Why Private Schools are essential partners in Ghanas Education Future
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF EDUCATION
Why Private Schools Are Essential Partners in Ghana’s Education Future
Today, on the International Day of Education, we collectively celebrate the power of learning to transform lives, strengthen communities, and build nations. Education is not only a fundamental human right — it is the cornerstone of prosperity, progress, and hope.
Yet, amid global efforts to achieve universal education, one enduring truth remains clear: no state can do it all alone. Across the world, private individuals, community leaders, and non-state actors have long stepped forward to expand opportunities for children and youth. This spirit of private initiative has grown into a vital education ecosystem that complements and strengthens public provision.
Why Private Initiative Matters
From the earliest days of formal schooling, parents, faith-based organisations, philanthropists, and private citizens identified gaps in access and quality, prompting them to establish schools where they were most needed. These schools were not created to replace government efforts but to support them, especially where state capacity was limited. This collaboration is not just a choice but a necessity: education cannot be monopolised by any single actor, not even the state could.
Countries that acknowledge the role of private education and create enabling policy environments are achieving stronger results. They expand access, improve quality through healthy competition, and reach learners in underserved areas. Where non-state providers are valued partners, education systems grow more resilient and inclusive.
Private Schools in Ghana: Scope, Scale & Contribution
In Ghana, private schools are a major force in the education landscape. Private schools account for about 49% of all education establishments and 33% of all pre-tertiary enrolments in the country. This means that one in three children at the basic level is learning in a private school, a non-trivial share that significantly contributes to national human capital development.
World Bank and UNESCO figures confirm that roughly 28–30% of primary-level enrolment in Ghana is in private schools, reflecting families’ demand for choice and quality.
Moreover, private secondary schools are playing a direct role in national education systems, including the pilot Free SHS placement programme, under which over 25,000 students have been placed in private senior high schools across Ghana as part of efforts to ease congestion in public schools.
Supporting Government, Expanding Access
Private schools in Ghana are more than service providers, they are partners in national development. They expand access where public provision is stretched, relieve pressure on public school infrastructure, offer additional quality options for parents, introduce innovation in pedagogy, learning models, and school management, and serve both urban and peri-urban communities where demand is high.
This collaborative model mirrors global best practices: education systems that recognise and integrate non-state actors are better positioned to meet enrolment growth and improve outcomes for learners of all backgrounds.
Jobs, Growth & Quality
Private schools are also economic engines. They employ thousands of teachers, administrators, and support staff, contributing meaningfully to job creation in the education sector and beyond. As institutions that train children every day, private schools are simultaneously building the foundation of Ghana’s future workforce.
Private education often responds quickly to emerging needs, introduces new technologies and methods, and drives competition that raises overall quality levels. For many parents, private schools represent hope, a belief that their children will receive a more disciplined environment, smaller class sizes, and focused instruction that prepares them for success.
Policy, Partnership & Recognition
Despite this impact, there are moments when decision-making does not fully reflect the realities of families, schools, and students. A recent instance of concern is the unilateral increase in BECE registration fees without clear justification or stakeholder engagement. Such actions place significant financial strain on parents, especially those with children in low-fee private schools, and risk creating barriers to participation.
For many families, securing funds for BECE registration is already challenging. When fees rise unexpectedly, parents may struggle to register their children in time, a situation that can lead to psychological stress, anxiety, and a sense of exclusion for students preparing for a critical national examination.
A Call to Action: Collaboration and Equity
On this International Day of Education, GNAPS calls on the Government of Ghana, policymakers, and education stakeholders to:
- Recognise private education as a critical partner, not merely an alternative
- Engage private school chains and associations in policy consultation and decision-making
- Create predictable, transparent frameworks for fee structures and regulatory changes
- Support mechanisms that protect families and ensure children are not left behind
Education truly thrives when all sectors; government, non-state actors, communities, and families, work together. Strengthening this partnership is not just good policy; it is essential for Ghana’s social and economic future.
Parents and Communities: Your Voice Matters
To parents: your choices shape the education ecosystem. When you support quality education — whether through private schools, public schools, or hybrid models — you are advocating for your child’s future and the nation’s prosperity.
To funders and development partners: investing in education is not just about infrastructure. It is about partnerships that leverage the strengths of all actors to achieve sustainable, inclusive, and high-quality learning for every child.
Education is collective
Opportunity is shared.
Ghana’s future is built together.
Happy International Day of Education.