Category B and C schools record 95% of reported SHS sexual abuse cases

A recent analysis of senior high school (SHS) safety records has revealed that approximately 94.7% of documented sexual abuse cases since 2015 occurred in Category B or C institutions. The report, which examined 44 documented instances of misconduct, found that only one school classified as Category A was implicated during the same period. This significant disparity highlights growing concerns regarding the safety protocols and reporting mechanisms across different tiers of the Ghanaian second-cycle education system.

The findings emerge at a time of intense competition for placement in Category A schools. For the 2026 academic year, 313,283 candidates applied for just 76,417 available vacancies in these top-tier institutions, representing a ratio of 4.1 first-choice candidates for every available seat. While the statistical concentration of abuse cases in lower-category schools may reinforce the perceived safety of Category A institutions, the data also highlights the immense pressure on the placement system as parents prioritize environments they believe are more secure.

Beyond the statistics, the report identifies a critical lack of transparency regarding safeguarding records and disciplinary actions against staff. Currently, parents and guardians have limited access to official information concerning teachers who have been accused or sanctioned for sexual misconduct. This information gap leaves families unable to make fully informed decisions about the safety of the environments where they send their children, prompting calls for the Ghana Education Service to provide more reliable and accessible data on school-level safety.

The analysis emphasizes that the categorization of schools—originally intended to reflect academic performance and facilities—has now become a proxy for institutional safety in the public consciousness. To address these concerns, education advocates are demanding comprehensive investigations into the effectiveness of safety measures across all school tiers. They argue that ensuring a secure learning environment must be a priority for every institution, regardless of its classification, to protect students from exploitation and abuse.