Private Schools demand Abolition of Government’s 30% Priority Placement System for SHS Admissions

The Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) and the Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) are calling for an end to the government’s 30% Priority Placement System, which they argue unfairly denies private school students admission to top public Senior High Schools (SHS). The associations recently submitted a petition to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), urging the government to abandon the policy.

According to GNAPS President Prof. Damasus Tuurosong, the 30% Priority Placement System, which reserves 30% of slots in Category A public SHSs exclusively for public school students, discriminates against private school students. This leaves the remaining 70% of spots open to both public and private school graduates, creating what the association calls an “unfair disadvantage” for private school students who have earned high marks and deserve equal access.

Prof. Tuurosong explained that while the system was originally intended to promote equity for students from disadvantaged public schools, it is based on an inaccurate perception that private schools are inherently better resourced. He argued that the policy undermines hardworking students in private schools and called on policymakers to implement a merit-based placement system that is fair to all Ghanaian students. “Our petition to CHRAJ is about justice for every student who dreams of a brighter future through education,” he said.

GNACOPS National Executive Director, Mr. Obenfo Nana Kwasi Gyetuah, highlighted Article 25 (2) of the 1992 Constitution, which affirms every individual’s right to establish and attend private schools. He emphasized that the current policy infringes upon the constitutional rights of private school students, urging CHRAJ to address what he called a “grave injustice.”

“Our pathway to Ghana’s top educational institutions should be determined by merit, not by arbitrary distinctions based on school type,” Mr. Gyetuah said. The petition seeks to compel the Ministry of Education to abandon the 30% Priority Placement System in favor of a fair, merit-based approach to SHS admissions.

By Majid Diallo || Ghananewsonline.com.gh