The Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) has welcomed government’s new policy allowing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates to select their Senior High Schools (SHSs) only after the release of their results.
According to the association, the revised approach will enable students and their parents to make more informed decisions based on actual academic performance, ultimately improving the school placement process.
Speaking to Citi News on Thursday, April 2, the association’s Communications Director, Kingsley Animadu, noted that the change addresses long-standing challenges in the previous system, where school choices were made without knowledge of candidates’ results.
“Some parents do not know the strength of their children so they find it difficult choosing a specific school that will be in sync with the performance of the student. So if today we will wait when results come and Parent A knows the strength of his ward, he will have that fair idea on which of the schools to go for,” he said.
The new policy, announced by the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, forms part of reforms to the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) aimed at improving fairness and accuracy in placements.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, April 1, the Minister explained that candidates will now have a one-week window after the release of BECE results to make their school selections.
He noted that the previous system required students to choose schools before knowing their performance, a practice that often led to mismatches between student ability and school placement.
PRETAG says the reform is a positive step that will enhance transparency and ensure students are placed in schools that better reflect their academic strengths and aspirations.
BECE candidates to choose schools after results under new system
