The Ministry of Education has welcomed calls by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference for greater transparency, accountability and an eventual review of the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).
In a statement signed by the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, the Ministry said the CSSPS is fundamentally a merit-based system, with merit taking precedence over protocol in the placement of qualified candidates.
The Ministry explained that the system is designed to ensure placement decisions are guided by established criteria and that qualified students are treated fairly within the approved placement framework.
However, it acknowledged the need for continuous improvement and announced plans to establish a Technical Working Committee after the conclusion of the current placement exercise to undertake a comprehensive review of the system.
The review will assess the various components of the placement process, identify areas requiring improvement, and recommend measures to strengthen transparency and accountability.
According to the Ministry, the objective is to ensure that the CSSPS remains credible, efficient, fair and responsive to the needs of students, parents and schools.
The Ministry also reiterated that CSSPS placement is free, stressing that no parent or candidate is required to pay money to secure a placement or have a placement changed.
It has therefore urged parents and guardians with credible evidence of officials or third parties demanding money in connection with school placement to report such cases to the appropriate law enforcement authorities for investigation.
The Ministry assured that the identities of persons who report such cases will be protected.
The Education Ministry said it remains committed to protecting the integrity of the CSSPS and ensuring that merit, fairness and transparency remain at the heart of the school placement process.
By: Bernard Mensah
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