EDUCATION · 25 March 2026

Free SHS programme enrols over 600,000 students in 2025/26 academic year

The Ministry of Education has released enrolment data showing 612,000 students entered senior high school under the Free Senior High School programme in the 2025/26 academic year, with a significant reduction in the double-track system coverage.

The Ministry of Education has confirmed that 612,000 students are enrolled in senior high school (SHS) under the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme for the 2025/26 academic year. This represents a 6 percent increase over the previous year and is the highest SHS enrolment recorded since the programme launched in 2017.

The double-track system, introduced in 2018 to manage capacity, now covers fewer than 30 percent of SHS students — down from 68 percent in 2020. This reduction follows the completion of 326 new classroom blocks funded under the Ghana Secondary Education Improvement Project (GSEIP), adding space for an additional 90,000 students.

The government absorbed GH₵ 1.8 billion in programme costs for the academic year, covering tuition fees, boarding and lodging, textbooks, and core learning materials. Capitation grants to schools have been increased by 15 percent to reflect current costs.

Students or parents with questions about Free SHS entitlements, school placements, or the Student Placement and School Selection System (CSSPS) can contact the Ghana Education Service helpline on 0800 900 900 (toll-free, available Monday to Friday, 08:00–17:00).