The Ghana Education Service (GES) has extended the deadline for the 2025 school selection exercise to Wednesday, June 25, 2025. This extension is to give final-year Junior High School (JHS) students more time to complete their school choices, especially with the recent addition of private Senior High Schools (SHSs) to the selection list.
This decision follows a new policy by the government to include private SHSs in the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme from the 2026/2027 academic year. The goal is to expand access to secondary education and reduce overcrowding in public schools.
In a press release dated Thursday, June 13, GES asked all Regional Directors of Education to share the new deadline with Metro, Municipal, and District Directors. School heads are also expected to inform final-year JHS students about the change.
“This extension has become necessary due to the inclusion of private Senior High Schools in the selection process, allowing candidates additional time to make well-informed choices,” the statement explained.
GES encouraged students to speak with their teachers, parents, and guardians before making their final choices. It also said that all current rules and steps for the selection process remain the same, except for the updated list that now includes some private SHSs.
A special list showing the added private SHSs has also been provided to help students with their selections.
Adding private schools to the Free SHS policy is seen as a big step in improving Ghana’s education system. It is expected to help reduce pressure on public school facilities while giving students more school options.
