CSSPS has improved despite placement concerns – Free SHS Coordinator

Reverend Michael Commey, Accra's Regional Coordinator for Free SHS, has defended the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS), asserting its significant improvement since its inception in 2017. Commey addressed the concerns of hundreds of parents and students at the resolution center in Accra, where they sought assistance for placement-related issues. Despite occasional placement anomalies, the system appears to function effectively, he said.

However, Commey acknowledged that some students are occasionally placed in schools far from their communities, leading to difficulties that necessitate administrative intervention. He cited instances where students residing in Accra were placed as day students in schools in Tamale, rendering daily commutes impractical. Such cases prompted the need for rectification, he explained.

Commey confirmed that the placement situation has markedly improved, responding to queries about the system's effectiveness. The resolution center saw a large turnout of parents and students, who voiced concerns over the distant placements, discrepancies between day and boarding placements, and students being assigned to different schools than those they had selected. Some parents expressed concerns about the financial burden and impracticality of daily transportation to distant schools.

Additionally, some students requested placement changes based on personal reasons, such as siblings being placed in different schools. The resolution center officials were attending to the complaints and encouraging affected students to choose three alternative schools for consideration. The high volume of attendees led to long queues, with some parents expressing their intention to return the following day for further assistance.