The Ministry of Education has introduced a financial support package of GH₵994 per student annually for selected private schools participating in this year’s Free Senior High School (SHS) programme.
This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry and the Conference of Heads of Private Second Cycle Schools, officially incorporating private institutions into the implementation of the Free SHS policy.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu said the initiative aims to reduce congestion in public schools and gradually phase out the double-track system.
He explained that the government’s contribution will serve as a stipend to support students placed in private SHSs under the pilot arrangement.
“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,” Mr. Iddrisu explained.
“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.”
According to the Minister, about 25,000 students are expected to benefit from the support under the pilot phase, which forms part of the government’s broader strategy to ensure all qualified students gain access to secondary education without delay.
President of the Conference of Heads of Private Second Cycle Schools, I.K. Mensah, praised the Ministry for extending the Free SHS initiative to private institutions, noting that it will help ease pressure on public schools while providing parents with more options.
“And the caveat is that, for now, during this pilot system, he’s going to place only day schools to us by the payment of 994 Cedi for a child in private second-cycle schools,” Mr. Mensah clarified.
He further explained that parents who prefer boarding arrangements can do so by covering the difference between the government’s subsidy and the school’s full boarding fees.
“Now, what is happening is that we know some private schools have different payments, different plans, and different payments for boarders and all that. So, if you are placed as a day student and you think your child comes from far and wants to access boarding facilities at that school, then you sit with the school and pay the difference between what the school is charging,” he said.
“For example, if it’s 2,000, it means the government has already paid or is going to pay 994 for that child who has come there. It’s up to you, the parent and the school, to pay the difference of, let’s say, 1,060 Cedi so that the child becomes a full-time boarding student,” he added.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
