There are 800,000 places available for all SHS freshers – GES dismisses shortage amidst placement pressure

The Ghana Education Service (GES) insists there is ample space in senior high schools for the upcoming academic year, despite growing concerns over the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) for the 2026 cohort. According to Daniel Fenyi, Head of Public Relations at the GES, there are approximately 800,000 available spaces for just over 600,000 students seeking admission to senior high schools (SHSs).

This indicates that the current placement issues faced by some students and parents are not due to a lack of space in schools.

Fenyi highlighted that the GES has seen significant improvements in automatic placements this year. In 2025, around 527,000 students were automatically placed, compared to 483,000 in 2024 and 447,000 in 2023. Consequently, the number of students relying on self-placement has dropped sharply, from 107,000 in 2025 to 53,000 as of September 10, 2025. He stated that more than half of the students have secured placement through either automatic or self-placement channels, accounting for between 93% and 95% of all admissions.

To address any remaining challenges, Fenyi emphasized that 17 resolution centres have been established nationwide to tackle human errors, technical issues, shortfalls, and isolated cases. While some centres in Accra and the Ashanti Region have seen a high influx of parents and students seeking assistance, Fenyi cautioned against interpreting this situation as a reflection of the entire country.

He noted that 15 of the 17 resolution centres were operating smoothly, and the pressure at the two centers should not be taken as evidence of a national placement crisis.