In a significant move aimed at addressing overcrowding in public senior high schools, the Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced a collaborative initiative with private schools across the country. The partnership seeks to reduce pressure on public institutions and phase out the double-track system introduced under the Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy.
The plan was unveiled on May 14, 2025, through an official statement shared on the GES Facebook page. It follows a high-level meeting held in Accra and chaired by the Director-General of GES, Professor Ernest Kofi Davis. Also present were his deputies, Professor Smile Dzisi and Dr. Munawaru Issahaque, along with key stakeholders from the private education sector.
Professor Davis explained that selected private schools will help absorb the growing student population by offering classroom space, facilities, and trained personnel. “Private schools across Ghana have the capacity to support free education, helping us manage student numbers and improve learning conditions,” he stated.
The double-track system, which splits students into alternating groups to manage overcrowding, has been in place since the rollout of the FSHS policy. Although it was introduced as a temporary solution, the system has faced sustained criticism from parents and students, especially in urban areas where school infrastructure is severely overstretched.
Representatives from the Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) and the Conference of Heads of Private Second-Cycle Schools (CHOPSS) participated in the meeting and expressed strong support for the initiative. They pledged their members’ readiness to profile their institutions for inclusion in the FSHS placement scheme.
“Our members are ready to ease the burden on public schools while maintaining quality education,” a CHOPSS official noted. The group believes that incorporating private schools into the FSHS programme could help restore normal academic calendars and eliminate the need for the double-track shift system.
Honourable Benita Sena Okitey Duah, National Coordinator of the FSHS Secretariat, also attended the meeting. She highlighted the negative impact of irregular school schedules on students and families, calling the new initiative both timely and necessary. “This partnership will mean better classrooms and steadier timetables for students, easing the stress on families,” she said.
This GES initiative follows President John Mahama’s May 7, 2025, address, where he outlined new measures to enhance education as part of his 120-day social contract with Ghanaians.
According to Professor Davis, GES will soon begin nationwide assessments of private schools to identify those capable of accommodating FSHS students. The collaboration marks a key step toward educational reform, with the ultimate goal of ending the double-track system and ensuring quality, accessible education for all.
Source: GESHub.org
