Deputy Director-General in charge of Quality and Access at the Ghana Education Service (GES), Dr. Munawaru Issahaque has encouraged parents who are yet to come to terms with schools assigned to their wards to accept placements and prepare them for school.

Speaking to the media he noted that the potential of their wards is not connected to the schools they are assigned to but rather to the guidance, discipline, and determination they exhibit throughout their educational journey. According to him, the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) has not been compromised therefore, their wards should accept reality and make the best of the outcome.

“Prepare your child. If by today, tomorrow or the next day you realise that what change you want is not coming, you just have to understand that your child’s place is where he or she is. You prepare your prospectus so that Sunday you send the child to the school to ensure that they’re able to join their colleagues.

“As we speak, between 95 to 99% are placed and they are not satisfied with one condition or the other. As we approach 15th, they will convince themselves that an opening that is for 76,000 people cannot take 340,000. The reality will dawn on us to pick what is available,” he said.

He cautioned parents against paying money to individuals who have assured that they will assist them in getting their preferred choices. He added that “They are so desperate and they are willing to pay—but if anyone has one person that you know has taken money from you, I am here, you can let me know that person. I am available and we’ll talk to the person”.

As per a circular dated Wednesday, September 17, signed by the acting Deputy Director-General for Quality and Access at the GES, Dr Munawaru Isshaque and addressed to all regional directors, freshers will report to their designated schools from October 18.

The statement warned school authorities against enrolling students against the placement list generated by the CSSPS Secretariat, stressing the need for transparency and impartiality during the registration process.

“Admission of students should strictly follow the placement list generated by the CSSPS Secretariat. No school is permitted to admit students outside the official placement without prior written approval from GES,” parts of the circular read.

483,800 have been placed into various Senior High Schools across the country out of the 590,000 candidates. On Monday, September 1, the school placement portal was opened for new entrant students to verify their school choices, biodata, and other relevant information ahead of the final placement.

The deadline for the fact-checking exercise was brought to a close on Monday, September 8. Of this figure,248,038 are females (51.4%), and 234,783 are males (48.6%).

However, 107,509 candidates (18.2%) could not be matched with their initial school choices due to high demand for certain Category A schools.

But one Gertrude Adzo Borklo has claimed that the Computerised School Placement System, the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), is being manipulated by certain school authorities.

However, in a statement issued on Thursday, September 25, and Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, the Ministry described the claims as false and said they are based on a “conspiratorial narrative”.

Additionally, the Ministry has noted that all efforts to reach out to the claimant have been futile, noting that Gertrude Adzo Borklo’s accounts appear to have been inactive for some time.

Nonetheless, the Education Ministry is working with National Security, the Cyber Security Authority, and other agencies to track down and contact the individual.

Other anonymous accounts, according to the Ministry, continue to circulate misleading claims about the school placement system. The statement emphasised that the placement process is entirely free of charge; therefore, it called on victims to complain to the Ministry through its numbers 054 154 8223 (Calls) and 024 490 8957 (WhatsApp).

“At no point is payment required to access this service. We call on members of the public to provide any information or evidence of persons, whether Ministry officials or third parties, who demand money for placements. The Ministry assures swift and decisive action against any individual found culpable,” the statement read.

The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of Ghana’s school placement system. There have been recent speculations that the Education Ministry solely depends on a rigid score system to place students in Senior High Schools.

But the Ministry has described the claims as misleading and inaccurate.In August, the Deputy Education Minister, Dr Clement Apaak, emphasized that multiple factors influence how students are assigned to specific Senior High Schools (SHSs).

According to an official statement signed and issued by the Deputy Education Minister on Saturday August 30, the Ministry noted that the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) used in designating SHS graduates to various schools considers the aggregate and raw scores of students, the availability of vacancies in schools, and the popularity of specific programmes.

The statement added that the Ministry does not demand or accept rewards from parents or guardians to guarantee that students are placed in schools of their choice, as speculated.

“The Ministry confirms that this information is not only false but also maliciously misleading. The placement is based on a combination of factors, including aggregate and raw scores, availability of vacancies in the various schools and programmes of study. Limited vacancies and high competition can affect placement.

The Ministry unequivocally states that no form of payment or inducement is required or solicited from parents, guardians, or their representatives for the purpose of securing placement.

“All interactions with the Ministry and Ghana Education Service (GES) officials are expected to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and transparency.

The public is advised to be cautious and report any cases of extortion or bribery attempts related to student placements. Stakeholders are encouraged to report miscreants to the nearest police station," parts of the statement read.

The Ministry’s clarification is a rebuttal to recent claims that the Ministry solely depends on a rigid score system to place students in Senior High Schools. Meanwhile, the Ministry has described the claims as misleading and inaccurate.

Parents and prospective Senior High School students have lodged complaints over misplaced placements to difficulties in accessing schools of choice.Others have also raised concerns about being assigned to schools far from their preferred locations despite meeting the required grades.

On September 19, the Deputy Education Minister, Dr. Clement Apaak, called for calm following reports of technical glitches in the placement process. During a visit to the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) Hall in Accra on Friday, September 19, the minister stated that the issue is being resolved and assured parents and students that all Senior High School placements would be finalized soon.

He explained that the current challenge was anticipated and that measures have been put in place to address it promptly.

“It’s a process. It has not ended. Be patient and be reassured that we anticipated a number of challenges, and that is why we decided to set a reporting date that gives you enough time and gives us enough time to address all the issues.“So be assured that by the time our wards are expected to report, which is around this same time next month, October 18, many of these issues, if not all, will be resolved,” he added.