The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has called for an independent review of the ongoing Senior High School (SHS) placement exercise, citing concerns over alleged bribery, inappropriate school placements, unfair admissions and the growing influence of “protocol” arrangements
In a statement signed by the President of the Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Bishop of Sunyani, the Bishops said the Computerised School Selection and Placement System was introduced to promote fairness and equal access but that recurring challenges continued to undermine public confidence in the process.
The Conference said the placement exercise must be transparent, accountable and responsive to genuine complaints.
According to the Bishops, 604,567 candidates qualified for placement this year, while 527,932 had been placed when the results were released.
They acknowledged that placement decisions were influenced by factors including academic performance, programme choices, boarding or day preferences and available spaces. However, they stressed that the outcomes must be understandable and demonstrably fair.
The Conference expressed particular concern over reports of students being placed in schools considered unsuitable based on their sex, disability, personal circumstances or location.
It also criticised cases where students were assigned to day schools located far from their homes, making daily attendance costly, impractical or potentially unsafe.
The Bishops called for genuine placement errors to be corrected promptly and appropriate arrangements to be made for students with disabilities.
The Bishops also raised concerns over allegations that some parents were being asked to pay money to secure school placements for their children.
They said no official, agent or intermediary should demand or accept payment if the placement system is intended to be free, and called for such allegations to be investigated.
The Conference further urged authorities to ensure that anyone found culpable faces appropriate disciplinary action and, where necessary, criminal prosecution.
On the issue of “protocol” admissions, the Bishops demanded greater transparency, saying the public should be informed about the legal basis for such arrangements, the number of places involved, the criteria applied and the individuals responsible.
They warned that public confidence in the placement system would be undermined if parents believed that financial resources, political connections or influence could give some students an advantage over others.
The Conference also renewed its call for the implementation of its decision to reserve 20 per cent of annual admissions in Catholic mission schools for Catholic candidates.
The Bishops said the decision was reached at the National Catholic Education Forum in Koforidua in 2025 and was therefore not a new demand.
According to the Conference, the arrangement would enable mission schools to maintain a meaningful population of Catholic students who could participate in the schools’ religious and moral formation.
The Bishops also called for the long-awaited agreement between the government and the Churches on the management of mission schools to be concluded and signed without further delay.
They said the agreement should clearly define responsibilities relating to admissions, governance, appointment of headteachers, religious and moral formation, discipline, infrastructure and accountability, while safeguarding the distinct identity of mission schools.
The Conference proposed the establishment of an accessible appeals mechanism to enable parents and students to seek redress when they believe placement decisions are erroneous or unfair.
It also called for periodic reviews of school categories and increased government investment in infrastructure, teachers, laboratories and learning materials to reduce pressure on highly sought-after schools.
They urged the government to strengthen the placement system so that merit, student choice, fairness and the best interests of every child remain central to admission decisions.
