The Ghana Education Service has extended the 2025 school selection deadline to June 25, 2025, giving students more time to choose their senior high schools.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has officially extended the deadline for the 2025 school selection process to Wednesday, June 25, 2025. This extension gives final-year Junior High School (JHS) students more time to complete their Senior High School (SHS) selections, following the inclusion of private SHSs in the selection system.

The decision comes as part of a broader policy shift by the government to include private SHSs in the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme starting from the 2026/2027 academic year. This initiative aims to improve access to secondary education and reduce overcrowding in public schools. By incorporating private SHSs into the Free SHS programme, the government hopes to alleviate infrastructure pressure on public schools and provide students with more educational options.

In a circular issued on June 13, 2025, the GES directed Regional Directors of Education to communicate the new deadline to Metro, Municipal, and District Directors, and subsequently to all JHS final-year students through their school heads. The extension allows students additional time to make informed choices about their educational future.

The GES has urged students to consult with teachers, parents, and guardians before finalizing their school selections. Existing guidelines and procedures remain unchanged, except for the updated school list that features selected private SHSs. A supplementary register containing the newly added private SHSs has been provided to aid students in their selection process.

The inclusion of private schools in the Free SHS policy marks a significant development in Ghana’s education landscape. It is expected to ease infrastructure pressure on public schools and offer students more options. By providing a broader range of educational opportunities, the government aims to enhance the overall quality of education and ensure that more students have access to the resources and support they need to succeed.

The extension of the school selection deadline gives students the necessary time to navigate the changes in the selection process. With the inclusion of private SHSs in the Free SHS programme, students now have more options to consider. The GES is committed to ensuring that the selection process is smooth and transparent. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the extended deadline to make well-informed decisions about their educational future.