Over 300,000 candidates chose Category A schools despite 76,417 vacancies – Education Ministry

The Education Ministry has revealed that despite only 76,417 vacancies in Category A schools, over 300,000 candidates opted for these schools during the 2026 Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) exercise. Press Secretary Hashmin Mohammed stated that this demand was a significant challenge faced by the system.

The overall system declared 859,828 vacancies across the country, which was significantly higher than the number of BECE candidates. The high competition for the limited vacancies in top-rated schools led to this situation. Schools like Achimota and Presec continued to attract the highest demand. When candidates couldn't secure their first choice, the CSSPS considered their subsequent preferences, placing them in second, third, fourth or fifth options if they met the necessary requirements.

Mohammed also clarified that no candidates were placed in schools they hadn't chosen, urging any concerns to be verified against the original selections. Candidates scoring nine in English or Mathematics could access the self-placement system, which opened up more options for those not automatically matched. The 2026 CSSPS results showed that 87.3 percent of 604,567 qualified candidates were placed, with 313,283 opting for Category A schools, the highest among the categories.