Gov’t to Pay GH₵994 Per Student to Private SHSs Under Free SHS Pilot – Education Minister

The Ministry of Education has announced that it will pay GH₵994 per student annually to private schools participating in the pilot phase of the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme.

The initiative was formalised following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry and the Conference of Heads of Private Second Cycle Schools (CHOPSS) in Accra.

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu said the inclusion of selected private SHSs in the Free SHS policy is part of government’s broader effort to end the double-track system in public schools.

“The government is committed to providing a stipend to support the transition of that category of students moving into private schools—that’s negotiable, we’ll still discuss as and when,” he stated.

“But for a start, that’s the commitment we make to the Ghana National Council of Private Schools for this pilot inclusion of selected private schools in the provision of Free Senior High School education,” he added.

According to the Minister, the initiative is expected to benefit about 25,000 students across the country during its initial phase.

President of the Conference of Heads of Private Second Cycle Schools, I.K. Mensah, welcomed the move and clarified that the pilot programme covers day students only for now.

“For now, during this pilot system, government will place only day students in private schools, with GH₵994 paid per student,” Mensah explained.

He further noted that parents who wish to have their wards in boarding facilities can pay the difference between the government’s contribution and the school’s boarding fees.

“If, for instance, a school charges GH₵2,000 for boarding, the government will pay GH₵994, and parents will make up the balance,” he said.

Mr. Mensah commended the Ministry for extending the Free SHS policy to private institutions, saying it will ease congestion in public schools and expand access to quality education.