GES Urges Parents to Accept Placements and Prepare Wards for School Reopening

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has called on parents and guardians to accept the school placements of their wards and begin preparations for the upcoming academic year, which officially begins between October 18 and 20, 2025.

Dr. Munawaru Issahaque, Deputy Director-General in charge of Quality and Access at the GES, made the appeal during a media briefing in Accra, following growing reports of parental dissatisfaction and crowds at the placement resolution centers across the country.

According to Dr. Issahaque, the placement process for this year’s cohort was conducted with fairness, transparency, and efficiency. He emphasized that while every student may not secure their first-choice school, the system ensures that all qualified candidates are placed in institutions where they can continue their education without disruption.

“Placement is not about preference alone; it’s about availability, merit, and balance. Parents should understand that the system works to ensure equity, not favoritism,” he stated.

He added that over 90% of candidates who sat for the 2024 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) have successfully been placed in senior high and technical schools across the country, while the remaining candidates can use the self-placement portal to select schools with available slots.

The GES, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), has also deployed technical and administrative support teams to regional and district education offices to assist parents facing challenges with the placement process.

Dr. Issahaque urged parents not to panic or engage in acts that could expose them to fraudsters posing as placement officials. “We’ve received reports of individuals claiming they can change school placements for a fee. We want to make it clear that such offers are fraudulent. Parents should rely only on official channels,” he cautioned.

He further stressed that the reopening date—set between October 18 and 20—remains unchanged, and parents must ensure that their wards are adequately prepared with academic materials, uniforms, and personal items. He also encouraged parents to provide emotional support to their children, many of whom will be transitioning into a new phase of academic life.

Education analysts have described this year’s placement exercise as one of the most efficient in recent years, with fewer technical glitches reported on the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) platform. However, challenges remain in urban centers such as Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale, where demand for top-tier schools exceeds available spaces.

Some parents interviewed at the Accra resolution center expressed disappointment that their wards were placed in schools far from their regions of residence. Others called for the government to expand facilities in high-demand schools to accommodate more students in the future.

In response, the GES assured the public that the Ministry of Education is working on a comprehensive review of the placement and selection framework to reduce congestion in popular institutions and strengthen the capacity of lesser-known schools to deliver quality education.

Dr. Issahaque concluded his remarks by reaffirming the government’s commitment to ensuring access and equity in education. “Every child deserves a fair opportunity to learn and grow. We urge parents to trust the process and support their wards as they embark on this new journey,” he said.

With schools set to reopen in just over a week, the GES’s message is clear: cooperation from parents is key to a smooth start to the 2025/2026 academic year. The Service also encouraged the public to use the official CSSPS website and call centers for assistance instead of relying on middlemen.

As thousands of students prepare to enter senior high and technical schools nationwide, the focus now shifts to ensuring that infrastructure, logistics, and teaching resources are ready to accommodate the new batch of learners—an essential step toward achieving Ghana’s long-term education goals under the Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy.

https://insightghana.com.gh/2025/10/12/govt-distributes-over-6-6m-pads/