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

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu acknowledged the challenges faced during this year's Senior High School (SHS) placement process, while clarifying that the reported figure of about 55,000 affected candidates does not represent those without school placements. Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile, he stated that the government recognizes these challenges but is focused on addressing the underlying issues rather than merely their effects.

Iddrisu emphasized that the 55,000 figure refers to candidates who failed to meet the criteria for placement, not those who have been left without a school. Currently, 604,000 students are in the placement system, with 527,000, or 87 percent, already placed. He pointed out that despite the existence of vacancies in several schools, the concerns of affected families may persist, as many available places may not be in their preferred schools.

Major challenges include the concentration of demand on a limited number of highly sought-after schools, with 313,000 to 328,000 applications for Category A schools with around 76,000 vacancies. To address these issues, the government is targeting structural weaknesses in the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) rather than relying on temporary measures.

The Ministry has also implemented a change requiring students to wait for their examination results before making final school choices, aiming to provide more informed decisions based on academic performance.