Let’s ensure smooth placement under CSSPS

The Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) for the 2025/2026 academic year commenced last Wednesday evening, successfully placing 483,800 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates into their preferred senior high schools (SHSs), senior high technical schools (SHTs), and technical and vocational institutions (TVIs). 

According to the Ministry of Education, this figure represents 82 per cent of the 590,309 qualified candidates out of the 603,328 students who sat the examination.

The placement exercise aims to provide students with opportunities to pursue further education in their preferred institutions. The CSSPS has revolutionised the way students are placed in SHSs and TVIs in Ghana.

However, despite its many benefits, the system has faced challenges that threaten its integrity.

One major issue is the perception that some schools are more desirable than others, leading to intense competition for limited spaces.

The allure of Grade ‘A’ schools has led to allegations of parents paying for placements, undermining the fairness and transparency of the system.

For the last three years, the issue came to the fore to the extent that a sitting Director-General of the GES petitioned the two investigative institutions in the country to investigate the alleged sale of admission to the Grade ‘A’ school.

The Daily Graphic is encouraged by the Ministry of Education's efforts to ensure a smooth and transparent CSSPS for the 2025/2026 academic year.

The system, which was introduced in 2005 to replace the manual placement process, has faced challenges in recent years, particularly concerning allegations of parents paying to secure admission for their children in top-grade schools.

Parents and guardians must heed the advice of the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Apaak, not to pay money to anyone promising to secure a preferred placement for their children or wards.

This warning is timely, and we urge the public to report any individuals demanding money for placement to the police.

The ministry's commitment to ensuring the system works smoothly without human intervention must go beyond mere talk.

The CSSPS portal experienced technical issues when it went live, but the team at the CSSPS secretariat quickly rectified the problem.

We anticipate that the situation will stabilise as the days go by.

However, to truly sanitise the system, the ministry must start by dealing severely with its own staff who compromise themselves.

Sanctioning parents who try to compromise these staff members is equally important, as the giver is as guilty as the receiver.

One major issue that the ministry needs to tackle is upgrading other schools to the level of top-grade schools.

This would attract students to these schools and reduce the pressure on the few elite schools. 
The Daily Graphic believes that upgrading schools in categories 'B' and 'C' is no longer optional if we want to avoid the annual clamour for top-grade schools.

With enough vacant places available for all qualified candidates, the only challenge is the quality of the majority of the schools.

To move education forward for national development, we must find a lasting solution to this annual ritual.

The Daily Graphic suggests that the Ministry of Education prioritises upgrading schools across the country by providing quality education and facilities.

This would not only reduce the pressure on top-grade schools but also give students more options for quality education.

The CSSPS has come a long way since its introduction, and with the ministry's commitment to transparency and fairness, we can expect a successful placement exercise.

The Daily Graphic urges the ministry to continue working towards ensuring that the system is free from corruption and favouritism.

By doing so, we can ensure that our children receive the best possible education, and our nation develops through the power of education.

As the nation moves forward, The Daily Graphic remains committed to providing updates and insights on the CSSPS and the education sector.

We believe that with the right policies and commitment, Ghana can provide quality education for all its citizens.