It pains me to see Ghanaians facing persistent problems with CSSPS – Alan Kyerematen

UNIP leader Alan Kyerematen has expressed deep concern over the ongoing difficulties with Ghana's Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS). In an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, he questioned why the nation continues to face such problems despite being under the rule of the NPP and NDC for over three decades.

Kyerematen was particularly dismayed by the struggles parents endure in securing placements for their children. He lamented that even children who have excelled academically, obtaining high grades, are still not guaranteed their top three school choices. “Imagine parents who have struggled to support their children through JHS, and yet their children, with grades ranging from 6 to 12, still don’t get their first three school preferences,” Kyerematen remarked.

He also highlighted instances where students are placed in schools distant from their preferred choices, compelling their parents to request placement changes, often for a fee of up to GH¢30,000. Kyerematen posed a crucial question to his audience: “Are we serious as a country in this regard?” The Education Ministry has reported that 527,932 candidates have secured placements, while 76,635 qualified candidates were not automatically placed, mainly due to the high demand for Category A schools.

The CSSPS portal currently provides a self-placement option for those not automatically placed, allowing them to select schools with available spots. Kyerematen further raised doubts about the fairness and efficiency brought by the computerized system, reminiscing about the days when they used to say, “Computer, no lie,” but now, it seems, the system has not delivered on those promises.

He emphasized the urgent need for attention to the placement system’s challenges, especially the impact on families who have invested heavily in their children's education.