The 2025 Senior High School (SHS) placement process has officially begun, with the Ghana Education Service (GES) successfully placing 483,800 students in senior high schools throughout the nation.

This figure represents 82% of the 590,309 students who fulfilled the placement requirements, paving the way for them to pursue further education.

Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, the Deputy Minister of Education, made the statement during a press conference in Accra.

Dr. Apaak confirmed in a thorough breakdown of the data that 248,038 (51.4%) of the 603,328 applicants who took the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) are female.

Due to fierce competition for certain Category A schools, 107,509 candidates (18.2%) who met the requirements for placement were not matched with their original school preferences, according to Dr. Apaak.

In order to give these students a second shot, the Ministry has launched a self-placement platform.

According to the Deputy Minister, 70 private SHSs are being piloted by the Free SHS Program this year and are now reachable via the portal.

Students now have more options and chances thanks to this effort.

“The private schools that have agreed to participate will receive government support equivalent to the fees incurred for students enrolling in public institutions,” he stated.

Students have several options thanks to this pilot program, the 724 public SHSs, and the 233 technical and vocational schools that are part of the placement system.

In a harsh caution against attempts to take advantage of the placement process, Dr. Apaak emphasized that it is “absolutely free.” He advised parents and guardians not to pay for placement services from any anybody, including state representatives or outside agents.

“Let me take this opportunity to strongly reiterate that placement is absolutely free. The Ministry of Education cautions that anyone soliciting payment must be reported immediately to the nearest police station or to the Office of the Special Prosecutor,” he said.

Additionally, he revealed that district, regional, and national resolution centers have been established to help with placement concerns. The national resolution center is located at the GNAT Hall in Accra.

In all, 603,328 candidates from 20,395 schools and 2,237 testing locations took the BECE this year, consisting of 297,250 males and 306,078 females.

The results, however not without problems, were released by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in August.

“Whether placed directly or through the self-placement portal, you have a clear and secure pathway to continue your education. Let us, as parents, teachers and communities, support our students and ensure that this placement exercise contributes to their success and to Ghana’s progress,” he stated.

177 candidates had their results canceled due to malpractice, while 718 other candidates’ results were also canceled. Additionally, WAEC withheld the subject results of 1,240 applicants and the whole results of 93 candidates.

Furthermore, some applicants from 119 schools had their subject results canceled, while some candidates from 87 schools had their subject results withheld for additional examination.

Dr. Apaak concluded by calling on all stakeholders to support the students.

A 50% reduction in admission fees for students starting in the 2025–2026 academic year at Nursing and Allied Health Training Institutions has been announced by the Ministry of Health.

The government’s recent “No-Fee-Stress” policy, which attempts to lessen the financial strain on college students nationwide, includes the intervention. About half of all first-year trainees’ authorized costs at health-related schools will be covered by the state under the plan.

“This reduction fulfils the commitment of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, to provide financial relief for parents and students who are determined to pursue their academic and professional dreams,” the Ministry said in a statement signed by its Deputy Director and Spokesperson, Tony Goodman.

All training institutions must fully follow the established cost structure, according to the order, which also warns that no institution may demand payment for things already covered by the policy or charge more than the maximum amount.

Any principal who violates the regulation or imposes unauthorized charges would do so “at his or her own peril,” the Ministry further warned.

It further stated that the action is a component of national initiatives to safeguard students’ welfare and advance fair access to health education.

In order to admit students under the updated fee schedule for the next academic year, heads of health training institutions have been instructed to start the required procedures.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced that 99 Senior High Schools currently operating the double-track system will revert to the traditional single-track system beginning with the 2025/2026 academic year in October.

This decision marks a significant milestone in the government’s ongoing reforms in the education sector. The double-track system, first introduced in 2018 under the Free SHS policy, was meant to ease congestion in schools by splitting students into cohorts. While it helped absorb the growing numbers of students, many stakeholders expressed concerns over shortened instructional periods and the strain on academic quality. GES says the return to the traditional system reflects improved infrastructure and planning, aimed at ensuring stability and quality in education delivery.

Alongside this announcement, the Public Relations Office of GES highlighted 20 key interventions that have been rolled out to strengthen the education sector:

Key Education Updates from GES

1. GH¢1 billion has been paid to support the Free Secondary Education Programme.
2. GH¢728.8 million has been released as Capitation Grant, clearing all arrears.
3. All districts have been directed to build a Nursery, Primary, and JHS from the 2025 DACF.
4. Ninety-nine double-track schools are being taken off the double-track system and restored to single-track this year.
5. Free SHS budget allocations have been increased with a dedicated funding source.
6. GH¢2.9 billion has been paid to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
7. GH¢695 million has been released to support the School Feeding Programme for basic schools.
8. Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) have been reactivated to strengthen school governance and discipline.
9. GH¢122.8 million has been paid for BECE registration.
10. GH¢512 million has been released for Teacher Training Allowances.
11. The school feeding budget has been increased per child.
12. Academic calendars for basic schools will now be released on time to aid planning.
13. Teachers are now eligible for promotion up to the director rank.
14. Teacher licensure exams that required travel to campus months after completion have been cancelled.
15. All stalled E-block projects will be revisited.
16. Free sanitary pads for all schoolgirls have been launched to keep girls in school.
17. GH¢300 million has been released to support the “No Fee, No Stress” policy, ensuring all SHS graduates who gain admission to tertiary institutions benefit.
18. WASSCE practical fees have been paid.
19. Feeding grants for special needs schools have been settled.
20. Over 30,000 diploma teachers who upgraded their qualifications have now been placed on the PS scale, with corresponding salary adjustments.

These measures reflect a broad attempt to address funding, infrastructure, teacher welfare, and inclusivity across the education system. For students and parents, the return to single-track SHS is perhaps the most immediate relief, ending years of split-term academic schedules.

With the 2025/2026 academic year set to begin in October, the coming months will test how effectively these interventions are implemented, but the signals from GES point toward a stronger and more stable education system in Ghana.