The government of Ghana, through the ministry of Education, has begun reviewing the computerized school system(CSSPS) to address the persistent placement challenges and improve the fairness and efficiency of senior high school admissions, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu announced in Accra on Monday, July 20.
The Minister made the announcement during the Government Accountability Series, where he also disclosed that the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results are expected to be released on or before July 31. He said the release of the results would pave the way for the placement of qualified candidates into senior high schools across the country.
Mr. Iddrisu acknowledged that the CSSPS has faced recurring challenges over the years, including placement errors, overcrowding in some schools and concerns about transparency. He said the government is committed to resolving these issues to ensure that every qualified student is fairly placed in a school of choice.
According to the Minister, a technical review of the placement system is underway to identify weaknesses and recommend reforms that will make the process more efficient and merit-based. He expressed confidence that the proposed changes would restore public trust in the system and reduce the difficulties experienced by parents and students during the annual placement exercise.
Mr. Iddrisu appealed to parents, students and the general public to exercise patience as the government works to improve the system. He admitted that increasing enrolment in senior high schools and limited infrastructure have contributed significantly to the placement challenges experienced in recent years.
“You may have to give me another year, then I’ll be better off in resolving the school placement issues,” the Minister said, assuring Ghanaians that reforms would produce a more transparent and reliable placement process.
On the release of the BECE results, Mr. Iddrisu stressed that the responsibility lies solely with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), adding that the Ministry would not interfere with the work of the examining body. However, he said he had been informed by the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service that the results are expected to be released by the end of July.
The Computerized School Selection and Placement System was introduced to ensure a transparent and merit-based placement of students into public senior high schools. Despite improvements over the years, the system has continued to attract criticism over delayed placements, self-placement difficulties and concerns about fairness.
The Ministry expects the ongoing review to produce recommendations that will strengthen the placement process before future admission exercises. The reforms are also intended to support the government’s broader efforts to improve access to quality secondary education under the free SHS programme.
SEIDU HUBEIDATU