Free SHS extended to 60 private schools nationwide
The government has officially extended the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy to cover 60 selected private schools across the country.
The Ministry of Education announced the list on Monday, July 21, 2025, marking the first time since the policy’s launch in 2017 that students in private schools will benefit. Until now, the Free SHS initiative had been limited to public senior high schools only.
According to the Ministry, the extension is part of efforts to reduce congestion in public schools and ensure equitable access to quality secondary education, whether students attend public or private institutions.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to check the list of approved schools through the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service (GES), or the Ghana National Council of Private Schools platforms.
The 60 approved private schools are spread across all 16 regions, with Greater Accra having the highest number, 15 schools. The Ashanti and Central regions follow with 10 schools each. Other regions such as Ahafo, Bono East, Eastern, Northern, and Western have between 2 and 6 schools included.
This development forms part of the government’s broader plan to strengthen educational infrastructure and create more opportunities for Ghanaian youth.
The Free SHS policy, introduced in 2017, seeks to remove cost barriers to secondary education by covering tuition, textbooks, boarding, and other fees for students in public senior high schools.
