The Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) has strongly refuted recent comments by Mr. Yaw Opoku Mensah, a former Deputy Spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, concerning the inclusion of private senior high schools in the 2025 Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).
Mr. Opoku Mensah, in a statement shared with the media, raised concerns about the eligibility and preparedness of private schools being considered for inclusion in the CSSPS. He alleged that many of these schools either operate with expired licenses or lack the necessary permits and infrastructure, making them unfit to deliver the new curriculum effectively.
“Most of the selected schools included in the placement process either have expired licenses or are without valid operational permits. Beyond documentation, these schools lack the qualified teachers and adequate infrastructure required to effectively implement the new curriculum,” he noted.
In a swift rebuttal, GNACOPS described his assertions as “misplaced criticism rooted in politics, not facts.” The council maintained that such claims not only misrepresent the facts but also undermine the credibility and contributions of the private education sector.
According to GNACOPS, all private schools included in the CSSPS have undergone rigorous vetting processes by state regulatory bodies such as the National Schools Inspectorate Authority (NaSIA) and the Ghana Education Service (GES). These schools, the council stated, meet the operational, infrastructural, and academic standards required by the Ministry of Education and are fully registered with valid licenses.
“Private schools seeking inclusion in the CSSPS are subjected to thorough scrutiny. Only schools that meet the required standards are approved. These institutions not only have valid permits but are also staffed with certified teachers trained under the new Standards-Based Curriculum,” the statement read.
GNACOPS also pushed back against suggestions that the integration process is being rushed, noting that stakeholder engagements, policy discussions, and assessments have been ongoing for years to explore equitable access to education through public-private collaboration.
The Council emphasized that the inclusion of private SHSs in the CSSPS is a strategic policy aimed at expanding access to quality secondary education for all Ghanaian learners, regardless of the schools they attend.
“It is time to move beyond politicization and embrace a united vision for Ghana’s educational advancement,” the statement concluded, urging that criticism must be grounded in truth and national interest not partisan narratives.
Below is a copy of the press statement:
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Emmanuel Mensah
