There are calls for the government and managers of the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) to address persistent challenges associated with the placement of Junior High School graduates into Senior High Schools.
The Ashiaman NDC Communications Officer, Joseph Awuku, alleges that the placement process has become a source of financial exploitation for some officials, with desperate parents reportedly being pressured to pay money to secure placements for their children.
Speaking on the “Adekyee Mu Nsem” morning show on Ahotor 92.3 FM in Accra, hosted by Citizen Kofi Owusu, Mr. Awuku called for the involvement of intelligence agencies to investigate allegations of extortion surrounding the placement exercise.
He said the situation has become a recurring problem every academic year and urged the government to take decisive steps to protect parents from exploitation.
Mr. Awuku also called on the government to intensify its education reform agenda by addressing challenges including inadequate school infrastructure, shortages of teaching and learning materials, and the lack of teachers in some Senior High Schools.
Meanwhile, the 2026 CSSPS exercise has recorded challenges, with thousands of parents and students seeking assistance with their placements. As of September 7, 527,932 candidates had been placed, while 76,635 qualified candidates had not been automatically placed, largely due to high demand for Category A schools.
Some of the challenges reported include difficulties securing preferred schools, unexpected school or programme placements, difficulties with the self-placement process, and long queues at placement resolution centres.
Parents in the Greater Accra Region have also called for additional resolution centres to reduce congestion.
The situation has renewed concerns about the gap between students’ preferred schools and the available vacancies, with many candidates unable to secure their first-choice institutions despite available spaces elsewhere.
Authorities are therefore being urged to improve the placement system, increase transparency and ensure that the process is accessible and fair to all candidates and their parents.
