The Ministry of Education has extended the deadline for the 2025 school selection process to Wednesday, June 25, 2025.

This extension follows the recent inclusion of private senior high schools (SHSs) in the selection process, giving candidates more time to make thoughtful and well-informed choices about their second-cycle education.

“All existing guidelines and procedures for the school selection process remain unchanged,” noted a statement issued by Prince Agyemang-Duah, Director of the Schools and Instructions Division of the Ghana Education Service (GES).

Students have been encouraged to seek guidance from their teachers, parents, and guardians to ensure they make the best decisions regarding their school preferences.

Additionally, regional directors of education have been instructed to communicate this updated deadline to all Metro, Municipal, and District directors. These officials, in turn, are to ensure that head teachers inform all final-year Junior High School students and urge them to take full advantage of the extended period to carefully review and finalize their school selections.

For the first time in Ghana’s educational history, the Ministry of Education has included 25 private senior high schools (SHSs) in the 2025 school selection process under the Free SHS programme.

This major milestone marks the integration of private SHSs into the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS), offering Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates a wider range of options for their second-cycle education.

The selected schools—listed under the newly introduced Category E—are co-educational day institutions strategically located across all 16 regions of the country. They provide diverse academic programmes, including General Arts, General Science, Business, Technical, Visual Arts, Home Economics, and Agriculture.

To accommodate this development, the Ghana Education Service (GES) has extended the deadline for the school selection process to Wednesday, June 25, 2025. The announcement was made in a statement signed by Mr. Prince Agyemang-Duah, Director of the Schools and Instruction Division at GES. The extension aims to give candidates adequate time to consider the new options and make informed decisions.

List of Newly Added Private SHSs:

1. Cosmos Senior High School – Ejura, Ashanti Region

2. Joy Standard College – Kumasi, Ashanti Region

3. Elite College – Kumasi, Ashanti Region

4. Ken Hammer Senior High Technical – Goaso, Ahafo Region

5. Mint Senior High School – Yeji, Bono East Region

6. St. Luke SHS – Mankessim, Central Region

7. St. Richard’s SHS – Assin Foso, Central Region

8. Mount Hebron College – Doryumu-On-Offin, Central Region

9. Domaa College – Ekumfi Swedru, Central Region

10. Samtet Oxford SHS – Atachem, Central Region

11. Samme SHS (New Site) – Mankessim, Central Region

12. Modern SHS – Kpong, Eastern Region

13. King David Community College – Kpong, Eastern Region

14. Somanya Senior High Technical – Somanya, Eastern Region

15. Ideal College – East Legon, Greater Accra Region

16. Cambridge Senior High Technical – Madina Estate, Greater Accra Region

17. City Business SHS – Mateheko, Greater Accra Region

18. Daceland SHS – Adentan, Greater Accra Region

19. Jireh SHS – Teshie, Greater Accra Region

20. Asini Memorial SHS – Sagnarigu, Northern Region

21. Rugari College – Bongo, Upper East Region

22. Reputable SHS – Wiaga, Upper East Region

23. Wallahs Academy SHS – Ho, Volta Region

24. Fame SHS – Shama, Western Region

25. Otou Memorial – Bibiani, Western North Region

These institutions will appear on the official school selection forms for the 2025/2026 academic year and can be chosen by candidates as part of the newly designated Category E.

According to the Ministry, this inclusion is a strategic effort to expand access to quality education, ease congestion in public SHSs, and enhance equity across Ghana’s educational landscape.

The Mayor of Accra, Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, on Wednesday, June 11, paid a working visit to six Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) centres across the metropolis to inspire candidates and reaffirm the Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s commitment to their academic journey.

The centres visited included Rev. Thomas Clegg Basic School, Kaneshie Kingsway Cluster of Schools, Ministry of Health Basic School, St. Mary’s R/C Basic School, John Wesley Methodist School, and Bishop Mixed School.

At each centre, the Mayor offered words of motivation, urging candidates to place their confidence in their preparation and faith in God. He strongly discouraged reliance on leaked examination materials, popularly known as apor.

“At every centre I visited today, I advised the students not to rely on ‘apor’—it only misleads. You can never be certain what questions will appear. What will see them through is their hard work and the grace of God,” Mayor Allotey told the media.

At Rev. Thomas Clegg Basic School, he encouraged the students to trust in God and the knowledge they had acquired through consistent study. At Kaneshie Kingsway Cluster of Schools, he reiterated his stance against cheating and pledged to rehabilitate the school’s park if students passed their exams successfully.

At the Ministry of Health Basic School in Korle Bu, the Mayor commended students for their enthusiasm and reminded them that success lies in faith and determination. His visit to Bishop Mixed School was marked by a generous promise—scholarships for every student who passes the examination.

During a media interaction, Metro Director of Education, Mrs. Justine Ivy Apawu, disclosed that 5,784 candidates were taking part in this year’s BECE within the Accra Metropolitan area. The figure includes 2,363 boys and 3,421 girls, indicating a higher female turnout. She noted that all required logistics for a smooth examination process were delivered on time.

Mrs. Apawu also cautioned against examination malpractice, emphasizing that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) had implemented strict measures to prevent cheating. “WAEC has ensured that Centre A’s questions differ from Centre B’s, and even within the same classroom, no two candidates receive identical question sets,” she stated.

Nationally, a total of 603,328 candidates—comprising 297,250 boys and 306,078 girls—are participating in the 2025 BECE. This marks a 5.99% increase from last year’s figure of 569,236. Candidates will sit for two papers daily, including subjects such as English Language, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Ghanaian Language, Religious and Moral Education, Creative Arts and Design, and Career Technology.

This year’s candidates are the first expected to benefit from the Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy under the new administration, offering a significant opportunity for academic advancement and national development.