Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Minister of Education
Over 67,000 candidates who sat for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) organised by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) could not be matched with any of their schools of choice.
Out of 521,710 registered candidates, 67,382 candidates failed to meet the requirement for selection into any of the four schools they selected.
Although 490,514 candidates qualified to be placed for this academic year, 423,134 candidates were automatically placed while 67,382 could not be matched with any of their choices.
This was contained in a press statement issued by the Ghana Education Service (GES) announcing the release of the list for the 2018 placement into senior high schools through the computerised school selection placement system (CSSPS) for the 2018/19 academic year.
According to the statement signed by Cassandra Twum Ampofo, Head of Public Relations Unit, GES, unplaced candidates are to do a self-placement to get themselves into senior high schools with vacancies.
The statement noted that candidates are placed in two categories – Green Track and Gold Track, signaling the commencement of the double-track system.
It added that those placed on the Green Track would resume school on September 11, 2018, while those on the Gold Track would resume on November 8, 2018.
It said candidates can access the placement portal by dialing *713*24# to buy a placement code at a cost of GH¢5.00 after which they log onto www.cssps.gov.gh to print out their placement.
Candidates are to enter the ten-digit-index number followed by 18 as the year of completion. They then have to enter the in code obtained and click on ‘submit’ and wait for placement to show up. Once it does, candidates can print it out.
Self-placement
For candidates who could not be automatically placed, are to do a self-placement by proceeding to the same portal to fill a form online to choose a school with vacancy.
The statement assured parents of candidates who could not be placed that a number of schools with vacancies have been uploaded on the portal “and therefore the candidates would be able to make a choice without hitches”.
It added that regional solution centres had been set up at all regional education offices where candidates with “genuine concerns” can visit for a solution.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak