Free SHS May Face 72,000 Placement Gap in 2026 — Eduwatch Warns
Education policy think tank, Eduwatch, has raised concerns that Ghana’s Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme could face a major placement crisis in 2026, potentially leaving about 72,000 qualified students without admission into second-cycle institutions.
According to Eduwatch, the growing pressure on the education system is being driven by several structural challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, limited school intake capacity, and the increasing number of students completing Junior High School each year.
The education policy group explained that while the Free SHS policy has significantly improved access to secondary education since its introduction, the continuous rise in enrolment is beginning to stretch the system beyond its current capacity. The report warned that without urgent interventions, many students who qualify for placement through the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) may not secure admission in 2026.
Eduwatch noted that in the first six years of the Free SHS programme, Ghana recorded an average annual enrolment of more than 422,000 students. However, projections indicate that the 2026 academic year could experience a sharp increase in candidate numbers, creating a significant placement deficit if expansion measures are not implemented quickly.
The think tank further indicated that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions may also struggle to absorb the growing number of students due to infrastructure and resource limitations. This situation, according to the group, could worsen educational inequality and increase frustration among parents and students across the country.
Eduwatch is therefore calling on the government and the Ministry of Education to immediately invest in expanding classroom infrastructure, dormitories, laboratories, furniture, and teaching staff recruitment to prevent the looming crisis. The organization also urged authorities to strengthen TVET education and accelerate the construction of new schools to accommodate the increasing student population.
Education stakeholders believe the warning should serve as an opportunity for policymakers to reassess the sustainability of the Free SHS programme and develop long-term strategies that will guarantee access and quality education for all Ghanaian students.
The Free SHS policy, introduced in 2017, has been widely praised for increasing access to secondary education, especially for students from low-income families. However, experts say the rising enrolment figures require massive investments in infrastructure and educational resources to sustain the programme effectively.
For now, many parents, teachers, and students will be hoping that swift action is taken to avoid a nationwide placement challenge in 2026.