The Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) has called for a complete overhaul of the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS), describing it as inefficient and burdensome for parents and students.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Council argues that while the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy has expanded access to education, its placement process continues to generate chaos, anxiety, and inequities every year.
Recent scenes at the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) Hall in Accra, where scores of parents and their children queued for hours to resolve placement challenges, underscore the systemic weaknesses, GNACOPS noted.
Figures from the 2025 placement exercise reveal that over 107,000 qualified Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates—representing 18.2% of students—were not automatically placed in any of their preferred schools. Many others were assigned to institutions far from their homes, worsening the frustrations of families.
GNACOPS said the over-reliance on centralized solution centers such as GNAT Hall only creates bottlenecks and additional financial burdens for parents who must travel long distances.
“We strongly believe that the most viable path forward lies in empowering District Education Offices to serve as front-line engines of localized, efficient problem-solving,”
— Obenfo Nana Kwasi Gyetuah, National Executive Director, GNACOPS
The Council is urging government and the Ghana Education Service to decentralize placement resolutions, strengthen digital platforms, bridge infrastructure gaps between urban and rural schools, and ensure greater transparency and fairness in the process.
GNACOPS emphasized that the placement system stands at a “critical crossroads” and must be reformed to prioritize equity, efficiency, and accessibility for all students.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
