Education Minister, Dr Adutwum has revealed that, the proposed Free Senior High School (SHS) Bill which is yet to be tabled before Parliament seeks to extend the secondary school level system to a period of six years , a three years addition to the previous years.
Under the bill, junior high school (JHS) would be separated from basic school and integrated into a six-year secondary education framework.
The proposed Free SHS bill, aims to overhaul the education system by removing the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) as a prerequisite for entry into secondary school.
The BECE would solely serve as a tool for school placement.
During a media engagement, Dr. Adutwum explained that if the Bill is passed, SHS certification would become the primary academic qualification in Ghana, replacing the current BECE certification.
The minister emphasized that this restructuring would ensure a continuous six-year secondary education, with new schools accommodating both JHS and SHS students on the same campuses.
Existing schools with combined JHS and SHS programs would continue this practice, resembling the traditional model where students from different levels studied together.
Dr. Adutwum highlighted that the bill aims to revive a system similar to the old Middle School and Secondary School setup, where the Common Entrance Examination determined school placement and the Hall Examination served as certification for employment or further education opportunities.