A parent whose daughter is yet to secure a Senior High School (SHS) placement says the frustration surrounding the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) pushed him to consider paying GH¢10,000 to secure admission for her.
The parent, a driver, said his daughter obtained an aggregate 9 in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) but remained without an SHS placement as of Friday.
Speaking to JoyNews’ Clinton Yeboah at the KTI Hall resolution centre in Kumasi, he said the prolonged uncertainty had left him desperate to find a school for his daughter.
According to him, he was initially directed to Presby Girls’ Senior High School after someone suggested the school because of his affiliation with the Presbyterian Church.
However, he said his daughter was not interested in attending the school, prompting him to search for another option.5He explained that his daughter’s preferred school was also unavailable through the placement process, leading him to seek assistance from someone he believed could help secure admission for her.
The parent said he was prepared to pay GH¢10,000 for the placement but was allegedly asked for GH¢15,000 instead.
He said his desperation had grown to the point where he was willing to part with the money simply to ensure that his daughter secured a place in an SHS.
“I was ready to pay GH¢10,000,” he recounted, explaining the extent of the pressure he faced as he tried to resolve the issue.
The parent said he arrived at the placement centre at about 4:23 a.m. and was number 206 in the queue, highlighting the pressure on parents seeking help with unresolved placement issues.
Parent alleges political affiliation was raised
The parent also alleged that someone at the centre asked whether he was affiliated with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and whether he had a party card.
He claimed the individual suggested that possessing an NDC card could have helped him receive assistance with the placement.
However, he said he did not want the matter to become political, stressing that his only concern was finding a suitable school for his daughter.
Parents call for faster resolution of placement issues
His experience is among several complaints emerging from the KTI Hall resolution centre, where parents and their wards have been seeking assistance with the CSSPS process.
Some parents say their children are still without placements, while others have raised concerns about being assigned schools they did not select.
The affected parents are calling on the Ghana Education Service (GES) and other authorities responsible for the placement process to expedite the resolution of outstanding cases.
They are also appealing for better communication and faster processing at resolution centres to reduce long waiting times and repeated visits.
For the parents gathered at KTI Hall, the uncertainty over where their children will attend school has created growing anxiety, with some saying they are unable to make proper preparations until their placement challenges are resolved.
By:Rachael Djabakie