The Education Ministry is set to propose a significant expansion of Senior High Schools (SHS) from three to six years, seeking approval from Parliament for this initiative.
This proposal comes on the heels of the Free Senior High School (SHS) bill, recently presented to Parliament. The bill aims to establish legal support for free and compulsory SHS education, a cornerstone of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s administration since 2017. This policy has greatly increased enrollment and educational opportunities for Ghanaian children by providing free education at the senior high school level.
Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum explained that the bill also includes plans to redefine Junior High School (JHS) as part of secondary education, creating a continuous six-year secondary school system. Additionally, it proposes the elimination of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) as a requirement for secondary school admission, instead using it solely for school selection purposes.
Dr. Adutwum noted that if the bill passes, the certification for completing SHS would become the first formal educational certificate students receive, replacing the current BECE certification.
In a press briefing, Dr. Adutwum highlighted the importance of legislating Free SHS to ensure its continuation. “What we need is a law that mandates free, compulsory universal secondary education. This means the minimum education for Ghanaians should be senior high school, not junior high school. It is our responsibility to provide the necessary support for them,” he stated.
He further elaborated that integrating JHS into secondary education would create a cohesive six-year secondary education system. Currently, Ghana follows a 3-year JHS and 3-year SHS system after six years of primary education, which replaced the older 5-year GCE Ordinary Level plus 2-year GCE Advanced Level system.
This proposed shift represents a significant evolution in Ghana’s educational landscape, aimed at enhancing the quality and accessibility of education for all students.
