I am waiting for a day we’ll not grade these schools again’ – SHS Head laments placement changes

The Headmaster of Mansoman Senior High School (SHS) in the Ashanti region, Rev. Nicholas Adu Berko, has expressed frustration with the categorization of senior high schools, arguing that it influences parents' decisions during the school placement process. The headmaster believes that the perception that some schools are superior to others, such as Grade A institutions, is deterring parents from choosing schools like Mansoman SHS, despite the availability of quality education.

Speaking to the media at a resolution center in Kumasi, Rev. Adu Berko stated his desire for a day when schools would no longer be graded. He expressed concern over students changing their school placements following the release of the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) results. The headmaster mentioned that Mansoman SHS had initially received over 600 student placements, but the numbers had begun to decline as students sought to change their placements to more desirable schools.

The headmaster also criticized the tendency to favor highly regarded schools while neglecting institutions perceived as being in lower categories, such as Grade B and C schools. He argued that the categorization of schools should not create the impression that students in one institution have better access to teaching than those in another. Rev. Adu Berko emphasized that the professional and academic capabilities of teachers should be considered over the reputation or location of the school where they teach.

He challenged the assumption that attending a highly regarded school automatically provides an advantage over those attending other institutions. Rev. Adu Berko, who attended Opoku Ware School himself, clarified that it does not mean someone in Mansoman SHS is not intelligent. He stressed that students should be given equal opportunities to succeed, regardless of the school they attend.

Mansoman SHS has the capacity to accommodate more students, with space for 800 to 900 students, featuring facilities such as seats, dormitories, and beds. The headmaster noted that poor road conditions have been cited as a reason for students seeking alternative placements, but work is underway to improve the roads. Despite this, some parents continue to avoid Mansoman SHS, citing the school's ranking and categories as reasons for their choices.

Rev. Adu Berko called for a placement system that allows parents and students to make decisions without being heavily influenced by school rankings or categories.