Free SHS School Selection 2026: Official Rules, Category Choices & 15% Quotas For Public Schools Explained

All is set for the school selection phase of the 2026 BECE, and ahead of the start of the selections in schools, the Ghana Education Service has released the new list of schools under the Free SHS School Selection for 2026, official rules, category choices, and the 15% quotas for public schools and their candidates.

Schools will effective Monday, 3^rd August, start the school selection processes. Parents of candidates have therefore been invited by heads of schools to visit the respective junior high schools for explanations regarding the school selection and to help parents make school choices.

Per the new guidelines released by the GES, the Ministry of Education has made it clear that  the selection will be guided by a set of policy guidelines (placement procedure). According to the policy,  

• Placement into schools and programs will be based on merit. This means the raw scores and aggregates obtained by students will play a key role in their final placement by the Ministry of Education.
• School and program options are linked.
• In the event of a tie, candidates’ raw scores are compared to help discriminate further. This means that if two students have an aggregate of 12 and, for instance, only one slot is left, their placement into the school will be based on their raw score instead of their aggregate.
• Candidates who are not placed after auto placement can access schools using the Self-Placement Module. Per this information by the MoE, the self-placement module will be used during the school placement for the 2026 BECE year.

15% Public JHS Allocation

According to the MoE, 15% of the total vacancies declared by each of the Category ‘A’ schools are reserved for candidates from the Public Basic Schools (JHS)

This implies that 15% of the total vacancies declared by all Category ‘A’ schools is set aside for Public Basic Schools (JHS) candidates who have selected that particular Category ‘A’ school

Public JHS candidates who choose Category ‘A’ schools will, however, compete for placement among themselves.

Strictly reserved for candidates of Public JHS. To qualify for this, candidates are required to select a Category ‘A’ school. The MoE has furthered that the category A school choices by public school candidates is automatic and not optional

The selection criteria and rules have also been made clear by the MoE.

It is important to put on record that it is not compulsory to choose schools from category A if a candidate does not high aggregate and a strong raw score to compete for the overly prescribed schools in category A.

• a) Candidates may select two (2) category A schools, one (1) as boarding and one (1) as day.
• b) Candidates may select three (3) category B schools, two (2) as boarding and one (1) as day.
• c) Candidates may select three (3) category C schools, two (2) as boarding and one (1) as day.
• d) Candidates may select Pilot Private Senior High Schools as Category B / Category C as Day

READ: 2026 Free SHS Schools in Ahafo Region Register – All Categories

Mode of Selection of Schools

• BECE candidates are supposed to select eight (8) 2nd cycle schools of their choice for placement.
• The mode of selection of the schools differs in terms of the categories of candidates.
• School Candidates Select their schools, get a signature by parent/guardian, and submit them to their JHS heads.
• Validation of schools selected would be done by candidate on the cssps portal after results have been released
• Date for validation of the scl announced before BECE res

Partnership with Private Second Cycle Institutions

The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Associations of Private Second Cycle Institutions, has integrated some Private Second Cycle Institutions into the Free Senior High School (FSHS) Programme.

Self-Placement Module

Candidates who are not placed after auto placement (unplaced candidates) can use the Self-Placement Module to place themselves.

How the Self-Placement Module works:

Candidates visits the CSSPS portal: www.cssps.gov.gh or www.cssps.org

Enter their details (Index numbers & Pin codes)

Schools with vacancies are made available for candidates to choose from.

Candidates print their placement form after submission.

Mode of Selection of Schools (cont.)

Private Candidates must select their school choices online via; https://www.waecinternetsolution.org (the date will be announced by WAEC)

Foreign students must purchase the foreign students’ application form, fill it out, and submit it to the director of schools & instructions division (secondary) at the GES headquarters, Accra.