Naphtali A. Kyei-Baffour
The Conference of Heads of Private Second-Cycle Schools (CHOPSS) has assured the public of its availability to provide students who were not placed into Senior High Schools (SHSs) under the 2026 Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) with an alternative pathway to continue their education.
A statement signed by CHOPSS Head of Communications, Naphtali A. Kyei-Baffour, encouraged affected students and their parents, taking notice of the reports from the CSSPS.
It indicated that about 54,985 candidates, who sat for the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) did not qualify for placement into public SHSs under the current arrangements.
It further stressed that failure to secure a placement in a public Free SHS institutions should not be regarded as the end of a student’s educational journey noting that accredited private second-cycle schools across the country have the capacity and willingness to absorb the affected students as well as provide them with quality education to enable them to pursue their academic and career aspirations
It stated that private second-cycle schools have historically played an important role in the country’s education system by providing opportunities for students who were unable to secure admission into their preferred public institutions.
CHOPSS highlighted that before the introduction of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy in 2017, placement into public SHSs operated largely on the basis of cut-off points.
It stated that students who fell outside the required cut-off points and were often unable to secure placement in public schools, subsequently turned to private second-cycle institutions.
It added that students are given the necessary academic support, training and guidance to improve their performance to develop the confidence and skills required to compete successfully with their counterparts in public schools.
CHOPSS indicated that a significant number of students who start their second-cycle education in private institutions also gain admission to tertiary institutions both in Ghana and abroad noting that some of its students are now making meaningful contributions to the development of the country in both the public and private sectors.
By Florence Adom Asamoah
