Ghana’s nationwide rollout for first-year Senior High School (SHS) admissions is proceeding largely with minimal incidents, as the Ghana Education Service (GES) confirms a smooth transition for over half a million students entering the 2025/2026 academic year.
The three-day reporting window, which began on Saturday, October 18 and concludes Monday, October 20, marks one of the largest coordinated admissions exercises in the country’s education sector.
According to the GES Public Relations Officer, Daniel Fenyi, monitoring teams were dispatched across the country on day one to assess and support the integration of new students—referred to locally as “freshers”—into their various schools.
“We ourselves went round to do some monitoring and see how the freshers are being integrated into the new environment. Largely, the process was ongoing very smoothly in a lot of the places,” Fenyi told Channel One Newsroom on Saturday, October 18.
Managing the Influx: Congestion and Adaptation
While most schools managed the surge in arrivals efficiently, a handful of institutions faced temporary congestion due to large numbers of students and accompanying parents converging at the same time.
Mr Fenyi explained that in such cases, school administrators sensibly advised families to return on Monday, the final reporting day, to ease bottlenecks and better coordinate orientation logistics.
“You wouldn’t want your child to miss the first week. If you are able to report by Monday, which is our ideal deadline, we wish that you are still able to do so. That way, your child won’t miss this important orientation exercise,” he emphasised, encouraging parents to prioritize timely reporting.
Speaking to JoyNews, one parent said, “We got here around 8 am, and there were already so many people. Some parents said they had been here since yesterday. For us, it went smoothly—but still, more can be done. Everything was done online, yet when you arrive, you still have to queue and wait for hours. I believe the internet challenges may be part of it, but it can be improved.”
Another parent, visibly tired after several hours of waiting, shared, “We came here at 6:30 am and it’s now 11:32. It’s not been easy. I wish the schools would give us separate reporting dates to ease the pressure.”
Despite the lengthy process, many students were visibly thrilled to begin school. One student said, “I’m very excited to be here. I’ve been inspired by others who came here, and I want to make my parents proud.” Another added, “This school is my dream, and I’m ready to study hard to make my father proud.”
GES officials underscored the importance of orientation, noting that early days are critical for familiarizing students with school rules, academic expectations, and available support services. Data from the Education Management Information System (EMIS) shows that students who participate fully in orientation are 30% less likely to drop out in their first year compared to latecomers.
A Record Intake for 2025/2026
This year’s intake—an estimated 590,000 first-year SHS students—sets a new record, reflecting Ghana’s steadily rising transition rates from Junior High School.
According to the Ministry of Education, the number represents a 5% increase over the 2024/2025 cohort, driven by improved basic education completion rates and expanded capacity under the government’s Free SHS policy.
The Ministry, in a statement released Friday, described the mass placement and reporting period as a “key milestone for Ghanaian education.”
Officials praised parents for their patience during the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) process, which this year processed more than 850,000 applications.
Ensuring Quality and Support
As academic activities get underway, education authorities are focusing on both the logistical and psychosocial aspects of the new school year.
The GES has activated a national support hotline and deployed guidance and counseling officers to help students adjust, particularly those relocating far from home.
Schools have also been tasked with upholding the principles of inclusion and discipline, echoing the Ministry’s call for students to approach this new chapter “with discipline, focus, and enthusiasm.”
The Ministry assured parents of “continued support to ensure a smooth and inclusive educational experience for all.”
The successful integration of nearly 600,000 first-year SHS students is seen as a critical test of Ghana’s ongoing education reforms, which aim to achieve universal access to quality secondary education by 2030
. With the reporting process on track and orientation in full swing, school authorities and policymakers alike are optimistic that this year’s group of freshers will set new benchmarks for academic and personal growth.
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