The Deputy Communication Officer for the Shama Constituency, Mr. Isaac Kwame Amoah, has expressed strong support for the Government’s recent reform of the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).
He described the initiative as a timely measure to enhance fairness and transparency in Ghana’s education sector.
The reform, announced by the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, allows Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates to select their preferred Senior High Schools only after the release of results.
This marks a major shift from the previous system, where students chose schools before knowing their academic performance, often leading to unrealistic selections.
Mr. Amoah noted that under the old system, many students applied to highly competitive schools they could not qualify for, causing widespread disappointment and, in some cases, lack of placement.
He said the new policy empowers students to make informed decisions based on their actual results, increasing their chances of being placed in schools that match their academic strengths.
The Deputy Officer welcomed the introduction of a one-week window after results for school selection, saying it allows students, parents, and guardians to carefully assess available options.
He added that the reform would reduce undue influence from teachers or external pressures and ensure that placements are strictly merit-based.
Mr. Amoah also highlighted that the policy would help ease congestion in top-tier schools, promoting a more equitable distribution of students nationwide.
He urged all stakeholders, including parents and educators, to support the initiative, stressing that it is a national effort aimed at improving educational outcomes and restoring public confidence in the CSSPS.
Read the official statement below!
The New School Placement System Reform for BECE Candidates
I wish to express my firm support for the Government’s recent reform in the school placement process under the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS). This policy, announced by the Honourable Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, introduces a significant and timely improvement by allowing candidates of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) to select their preferred Senior High Schools only after the release of their results.
This new system is a progressive step toward fairness, transparency, and informed decision-making in our educational sector. Previously, students were compelled to select schools without knowing their academic performance, often leading to unrealistic choices and unfavorable placements. By contrast, the new approach empowers candidates with the opportunity to make decisions based on their actual results, thereby increasing their chances of gaining admission into schools that align with their academic strengths.
One of the most important benefits of this reform is that it promotes informed choices. Students will now clearly understand their aggregates before selecting schools, which reduces guesswork and disappointment. This will not only enhance student confidence but also ensure that placements are more accurate and merit-based. There were situations where some teachers selected schools for students without properly considering their academic ability. These choices were often made before results were released. In many cases, students ended up choosing highly competitive schools they could not qualify for. The result? After the release of results, such students were left stranded without placement or were placed in schools they never desired. This created frustration, disappointment, and loss of confidence among students.
But with this new system, that problem is solved. Students will now make their own choices based on their actual results, not assumptions made by others. This promotes independence, responsibility, and accuracy in decision-making.
Additionally, the introduction of a one-week selection window after results are released is highly commendable. This period allows students, parents, and guardians to carefully evaluate options, seek guidance, and make well-thought-out decisions. It strengthens collaboration between families and educators, leading to better outcomes for students. In the past, there were unfortunate instances where some parents used their financial influence to secure admission for their wards into top schools, even when those students did not meet the required academic standards. This practice undermined fairness and deprived hardworking students of opportunities they truly deserved.
However, this new policy strengthens the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) and makes it more transparent and merit-based. Since school choices are now made after results are known, and placement is aligned strictly with performance, it becomes much more difficult for money or influence to override merit. This ensures that only deserving students gain admission into competitive schools.
Furthermore, this policy is expected to significantly reduce placement errors and congestion in top-tier schools. Under the old system, many students selected highly competitive schools without meeting the required grades, resulting in imbalances and unnecessary pressure on the system. The new structure will ensure a more even distribution of students across schools, improving efficiency and fairness.
Another critical advantage is the enhancement of transparency and trust in the CSSPS process. When students see that their placements are directly linked to their performance and choices made after results, public confidence in the system will increase. This is essential for maintaining credibility in national educational policies.
Also, another serious concern under the previous placement system was the unethical practice where some teachers allegedly accepted bribes from certain parents in an attempt to influence school selection and admission decisions. In such cases, parents who had the financial means could persuade teachers to choose top or highly competitive schools for their children, even when those students did not meet the required academic standards. This behavior not only promoted corruption but also undermined fairness and equal opportunity within the education system.
As a result, hardworking and deserving students were sometimes denied admission into schools they rightfully qualified for, while less qualified candidates gained an unfair advantage through financial influence. This weakened trust in the placement process and created a sense of injustice among students and parents.
However, with the introduction of the new policy under the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS), such practices are significantly minimized. Since students now select their preferred schools after the release of their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results, decisions are based on verified academic performance rather than external manipulation. The system becomes more transparent and merit-based, making it difficult for any individual—whether teacher or parent—to influence placement through unethical means.
In conclusion, this reform is a bold and thoughtful initiative that addresses long-standing challenges in the school placement system. It promotes fairness, improves efficiency, and places students at the center of decision-making. I strongly believe that this new policy will bring lasting positive change to Ghana’s education system and ensure a brighter future for our young learners.
It is also important to emphasize that this reform should not be viewed through a political lens, but rather as a national effort to improve Ghana’s educational system. Too often, important policies are misunderstood or criticized based on political affiliations instead of their true purpose and benefits. This particular reform is not about political gain or party interest; it is about correcting long-standing challenges within the placement system and ensuring fairness for every Ghanaian student.
Education remains a critical pillar of national development, and any initiative that seeks to promote transparency, merit, and equal opportunity must be supported by all, regardless of political background. By allowing students to make informed school choices based on their actual performance, the policy prioritizes the future of learners above all other considerations.
Therefore, stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and the general public, must embrace this reform with an open mind and a collective sense of responsibility. When we remove politics from educational decisions and focus on what truly benefits students, we create a stronger, more credible, and more effective system that serves the interest of the entire nation.
Deputy Communication Officer
(Mr. Isaac Kwame Amoah)
Shama Constituency
