Education system in Ghana: structure and stages

Ghana's formal education system follows a 6-3-3-4 structure: 6 years of primary school, 3 years of Junior High School (JHS), 3 years of Senior High School (SHS) and 4 years of university (or 2-3 years of technical/vocational tertiary). Basic education (KG to JHS) is compulsory and tuition-free in public schools under the FCUBE policy (Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education). The Free SHS policy (launched 2017) extends free tuition to public senior high schools. Key examinations: Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) at end of JHS for placement into SHS, and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) at end of SHS for tertiary placement. The Ministry of Education sets policy; the Ghana Education Service (GES) runs basic and secondary schools; the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) develops curriculum.