Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu Vows to Resolve SHS Placement Crisis and Review CSSPS Framework

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has assured students and parents that all outstanding challenges related to the 2026 Senior High School (SHS) placement process will be resolved before the start of the new academic year. Speaking during a visit to the National Resolution Centre in Accra, the Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring no student is left behind following the release of the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) results. The visit comes at a time of heightened anxiety as thousands of families seek redress for issues ranging from long-distance school assignments to a lack of vacancies in preferred institutions. The Minister praised officials at the centre for their efforts in managing the high volume of cases and noted that many issues have already been successfully addressed since the centre's activation.

During his engagement with parents, Minister Iddrisu acknowledged the significant pressure on the system, noting that the demand for "Category A" schools far exceeds available space. Currently, over 313,000 candidates are vying for just 76,417 spots in top-tier schools, a disparity that has led to overcrowding and confusion. The Minister encouraged parents to consider Category B and C institutions as viable stepping stones to higher education, while promising long-term investments in infrastructure to create more high-demand spaces. This surge in demand is attributed to an overall increase in the number of Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates, reflecting the growing reach of secondary education initiatives.

In response to transparency concerns raised by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) and other stakeholders, the Ministry of Education has announced the formation of a Technical Working Committee. This committee will be tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of the CSSPS once the current placement exercise is concluded. The goal is to evaluate the system’s effectiveness, address corruption allegations, and ensure that placements remain strictly merit-based and fair, particularly for students with disabilities. The GCBC has specifically called for an expert evaluation to restore public credibility and improve the system's operational efficiency, emphasizing that the placement process must remain free and transparent.

Despite these administrative assurances, the current placement cycle has faced criticism regarding infrastructure readiness and academic performance. Reports suggest that the lack of new school construction between 2025 and 2026 has exacerbated capacity issues, leading some critics to suggest a return to the double-track system to alleviate pressure. Additionally, public discourse has been sparked by concerns over student performance, with media personality MzGee and others reacting to the high BECE aggregates being presented at the resolution centre. As the Ministry moves forward with its review, the focus remains on balancing the immediate needs of the 2026 cohort with a necessary overhaul of the national education strategy to better match student aspirations with available resources.