Education Ministry backs call for transparent review of CSSPS

The Ghana Education Ministry has welcomed calls for a transparent review of the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) from the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference. The Ministry affirmed that CSSPS is a merit-based system, with placement decisions grounded in established criteria and aimed at treating every qualified student fairly.

Recognizing the need for continual improvement, the Ministry pledged to establish a Technical Working Committee after the current placement exercise. This committee will conduct a thorough review of the CSSPS, pinpoint areas needing enhancement, and bolster transparency and accountability. Its recommendations will seek to maintain the system's credibility, efficiency, fairness, and responsiveness to students, parents, and schools.

The Ministry emphasized that CSSPS placement remains free, emphasizing that neither parents nor candidates are obligated to pay for placement or have an existing placement altered. It urged those with concrete evidence of officials or third parties pressuring money for school placement to report such instances to the relevant law enforcement agencies, promising to safeguard the identity of such reporters.

The statement comes as concerns over the transparency and efficacy of the school placement system have grown, prompting calls for reforms to enhance public trust in the process. The Ministry reiterated its dedication to safeguarding the integrity of the CSSPS and ensuring that merit, fairness, and transparency remain at the forefront of the placement process.