Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has assured parents and candidates that this year’s senior high school placement is being carried out strictly on merit.
Speaking to the press in Accra, he emphasized that neither he nor officials of the ministry have access to alter placements, warning against attempts by unscrupulous individuals to manipulate the system.
Mr. Iddrisu acknowledged that limited boarding facilities remain a major challenge, particularly in Category A schools, where demand far exceeds capacity.
“Let me assure you that placement of persons who pass in their BECE exams is ongoing. The director-general sitting here has no access. I have no access. Deputy Minister has no access. No deputy director-general has access. In order to guarantee the meritorious application of it.
But sometimes there are other persons who may want to abuse it and we will deal with them as and when we find culprits. For instance, I would not accept a student with aggregate 37 going into a Category A school. What would be your justification for that?” he stressed.
He said government is in discussions with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) to create more space and expand infrastructure.
The minister disclosed that CHASS has been tasked to identify schools where additional facilities could be secured in the short term.
He also revealed that, for the first time, the placement system has been extended to private SHSs to absorb qualified students who may not find space in public schools.
He maintained that investment in infrastructure remains the most sustainable solution to easing pressure, but assured parents that every qualified child will be placed.
