The Ministry of Education has welcomed calls by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference for a comprehensive review of the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).
The response follows a call by the Catholic Bishops for an independent review of the ongoing Senior High School (SHS) placement exercise amid concerns over alleged payments for placements, inappropriate school assignments, and the influence of “protocol” arrangements.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, September 15, and signed by the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, the Ministry said it welcomed the Bishops’ concerns and their call for greater transparency and accountability.
The Ministry, however, stressed that the CSSPS remains fundamentally a merit-based system, with merit taking precedence over protocol in the placement of qualified candidates.
It said placement decisions are intended to be guided by established criteria to ensure that every qualified student is treated fairly within the approved framework.
The Ministry also sought to address concerns over alleged payments for school placements, reiterating that the CSSPS placement process is free.
It said no parent or candidate is required to pay money either to secure a placement or to have an existing placement changed.
The Ministry has urged parents and guardians who have credible evidence of anyone demanding money in connection with school placement to report the matter to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.
While welcoming the Bishops’ intervention, the Ministry said the broader review of the placement system would take place after the conclusion of the current exercise.
It said the review would examine the various components of the CSSPS, identify areas requiring improvement, and make recommendations to strengthen transparency and accountability.
