The Conference of Heads of Private Second-Cycle Schools (CHOPSS) has assured parents and guardians that accredited private second-cycle schools across Ghana are ready to admit the 54,985 candidates who were unable to secure placement into Senior High Schools under the 2026 Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).
In a statement issued on September 3, 2026, CHOPSS said it had taken note of reports that 54,985 candidates who sat for the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) had not been placed in schools under the current arrangements.
The statement, signed by CHOPSS Head of Communications Naphtali A. Kyei-Baffour, assured the affected candidates and their families that private second-cycle schools are willing to provide them with quality education and an opportunity to continue their academic pursuits.
“CHOPSS wishes to assure parents, guardians and the affected candidates that Private Second-Cycle Schools across the country are ready and willing to absorb these students and provide them with quality second-cycle education and the opportunity to pursue their academic aspirations,” the statement said.
Private schools offer second chance
CHOPSS noted that private second-cycle institutions have over the years provided an alternative pathway for students who were unable to meet the cut-off points for admission into public Senior High Schools.
According to the Conference, many students who enrolled in private schools subsequently improved academically, developed relevant skills and confidence, and gained admission to tertiary institutions both in Ghana and abroad.
CHOPSS has therefore appealed to its accredited member schools to consider admitting affected candidates at discounted and affordable fees, where possible.
The Conference said the initiative would enable more families to access quality second-cycle education despite challenges associated with the current placement system.
“CHOPSS therefore calls on all accredited member schools to consider admitting the affected candidates at discounted and affordable fees, where possible, to enable more families to access quality second-cycle education,” it added.
Parents urged to explore alternative pathways
CHOPSS stressed that failure to secure a place in a public Free SHS institution should not be regarded as the end of a child’s educational journey.
Instead, the Conference urged parents and guardians to consider alternative educational pathways that would allow their children to continue their second-cycle education.
Parents and guardians have been encouraged to contact accredited CHOPSS member schools within their catchment areas to enquire about available programmes, admission opportunities and applicable fees.
The CHOPSS Secretariat has also offered to provide information on accredited private second-cycle schools and assist parents in identifying institutions in their respective areas.
The Conference expressed confidence that through the collective efforts of private second-cycle schools, parents, guardians and other education stakeholders, the current placement challenge could be transformed into an opportunity for affected candidates to begin a new chapter in their educational journey.
