‘We have a problem’ – Haruna Iddrisu admits SHS placement challenges

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has acknowledged the challenges faced during this year's Senior High School (SHS) placement process, yet maintains that the reported 55,000 affected candidates do not equate to those who lack school placements. Addressing concerns on JoyNews’ Newsfile, Iddrisu emphasized that the government aims to tackle the root causes of the issue rather than merely addressing its symptoms.

Speaking on the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS), Iddrisu stated that he prioritizes addressing the real problems rather than simply dealing with the consequences.

The Minister explained that out of 604,000 students in the placement system, 527,000 (87%) have already been allocated a school. Iddrisu clarified that the available vacancies in certain schools do not automatically resolve the worries of the affected families, as many of these slots are in institutions that may not align with students' and parents' preferences.

The concentration of demand on a select few highly sought-after Category A schools presents a significant challenge, as between 313,000 to 328,000 students applied for these schools, with only about 76,000 vacancies available.

To tackle the underlying structural weaknesses in the CSSPS, the government is taking a new approach to school selection. This year, students are required to wait for their examination results before making their final school choices, aiming to promote more informed decisions based on actual academic performance. Under this policy, candidates are expected to consider their results and competitiveness before deciding on schools, while the placement system continues to account for factors such as vacancy availability and other placement considerations.

Iddrisu defended the change to require examination results prior to final school selections, as this policy intends to reduce unrealistic expectations and minimize mismatches between students' preferred schools and the limited number of available places. The Minister’s remarks come amid public concern over the situation involving approximately 55,000 candidates in the 2026 placement exercise, highlighting a distinction between candidates who have not secured their preferred schools and those who did not qualify for placement based on the established criteria.

The government's primary focus remains on addressing structural challenges within the placement system to ensure it remains responsive to the needs of students and families.