Free SHS Placement Crisis Looms as Eduwatch Predicts Capacity Shortfall
Africa Education Watch has raised concerns over a potential shortfall in senior high school admission spaces under the Free SHS and TVET system, warning that available capacity may not match the number of qualified candidates.
In its Volume 37 Education Alert Policy Brief, the organisation estimates that out of approximately 620,000 candidates who sat for the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), about 607,000 are expected to meet the requirements for placement into senior high schools.
Despite this high pass and qualification outlook, Eduwatch cautions that existing infrastructure may be unable to absorb all eligible students. It projects that roughly 72,000 qualified candidates could be left without placement if urgent corrective measures are not implemented.
The report further indicates a decline in transition efficiency, which fell from 92 percent in 2024 to 82 percent in 2025. This reduction is expected to increase pressure on the Computerised School Selection and Placement System during the upcoming admission cycle.
According to Eduwatch, the anticipated pressure is influenced by several structural factors, including the gradual reduction of the Double Track system in selected schools, uneven distribution of available vacancies across regions, and accessibility constraints affecting school selection patterns.
The policy brief also notes that efforts to expand placement opportunities through the inclusion of private senior high schools under the Free SHS framework have yielded limited impact in addressing the capacity gap.
Eduwatch warns that if urgent interventions are not undertaken, the 2026 admission process could further expose weaknesses within the secondary education system, particularly as enrolment continues to rise.
To mitigate the situation, the organisation is calling on government to accelerate the expansion of boarding facilities, complete stalled educational infrastructure projects, and strengthen the efficiency of the placement process ahead of the August admissions period.
It further recommends deeper collaboration with private education providers to reduce congestion in public senior high schools, cautioning that delays in action could intensify the scale of the anticipated placement challenge.