2026 SHS placement crisis was caused by changes to established model – Former Dept. GES Director

Former Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, Dr Kwabena Bempah Tandoh, has attributed the challenges surrounding the 2026 Senior High School (SHS) placement exercise to changes made to the established placement model. Dr Tandoh, who is also the spokesperson for the NPP Policy Committee on Education, pointed out that the controversy stemmed from alterations in student selection, eligibility requirements, and the number of Category A schools candidates could choose.

He emphasized that Ghana's secondary school placement system has traditionally been based on student choice and the availability of places in schools, with grading, merit, and school capacity playing crucial roles in admissions. The introduction of the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) in 2005 and Free SHS in 2017 aimed to modernise and expand access to secondary education, but the recent policy change without adequate communication and stakeholder consultation has created uncertainty and confusion in the placement process.

Brief written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.