Education Ministry offers GH₵994 per student to private schools under free SHS pilot

By Esther Korantemaa Offei

The Ministry of Education has pledged to pay GHS994 per student annually to support private schools participating in this year’s Free Senior High School (SHS) programme.

The commitment was announced during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry and the Conference of Heads of Private Second Cycle Schools, formalising the inclusion of selected private SHSs in the Free SHS policy.

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu explained that the support, expected to benefit about 25,000 students, forms part of government’s efforts to eliminate 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, and we’ll continue discussions as needed.

 “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, as part of the government’s effort to end double track,” he said.

President of the Conference of Heads of Private Second Cycle Schools, I.K. Mensah, commended the government for the initiative and clarified the terms of the pilot programme.

“The caveat is that, for now, during this pilot system, only day schools will be placed with us, and the government will pay GHS994 per child in private second-cycle schools,” he explained.

Mr Mensah further noted that parents who wish to have their wards enrolled as boarders can make up the difference between the government’s payment and the school’s boarding fees.

“We know some private schools have different payment structures for boarders. So, if your child is placed as a day student but comes from far and needs boarding, you can sit with the school and pay the difference.

 “For example, if the boarding fee is GHS2,000, and the government pays GHS994, it’s up to the parent and the school to cover the remaining GHS1,006 so the child becomes a full-time boarding student,” he explained.

Mr Mensah also reiterated that the current government support applies only to day students under the pilot programme.