A quota system was introduced, reserving 30% of placements in Category “A” SHS for public JHS graduates. This study examines the impact of the policy on private basic education and assesses its role in ensuring equitable access to education.
This study employed a quantitative research design using survey data collected from 138 respondents. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was applied to cross-sectional data to test the study's hypotheses and assess significant relationships between the quota system and private school operational metrics.
The study revealed that Ghana's Free SHS quota system is perceived by the sampled operators as affecting private schools, leading to declining enrolments and reduced Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) registrations. Additionally, the study's preliminary estimates suggest a potential financial strain on private schools, though this finding is not statistically robust. The policy was perceived as disproportionately favouring public schools, thereby limiting the opportunities of private school graduates, with most respondents disagreeing that the policy ensures equity. These findings shed light on the current state of Ghana's educational system.
While this study focuses on Ghana, its findings have far-reaching implications for other emerging market nations. It provides a clear demonstration of how a quota system policy can significantly impact private schools, thereby informing policy decisions and future research in the field.
To the best of the author's knowledge, the impact of the quota system policy has not been extensively explored in the literature.
