2011 SHS admissions to reduce

Story: Hadiza Nuhhu-Billa Quansah
A large number of BECE candidates for this year are not likely to gain admission to their preferred senior high schools (SHS) since majority of the schools have drastically reduced their intake for the 2011/2012 academic year.
A list the Junior Graphic chanced upon revealed that almost all the Category ‘A’ schools had informed the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) about the limited vacancies for this academic year.
The list, which is mainly made up of the ‘first-class schools” is as follows: the Presbytarian Boys Senior High School (PRESEC) Legon, has declared vacancies for 600 students; Accra Girls SHS, 310; St Roses SHS, 120; St Agustine’s College, 300; Yaa Asantewaa Girls’ SHS 460; Opoku Ware SHS 440; Prempeh College 600; St James Seminary SHS, 120; Bishop Herman College, 320; Mawuli SHS 440; Tamale SHS 650; Ghana SHS, Tamale 540; Bolgatanga Girls’ SHS, 320; Notre Dame Seminary SHS, 90; St Francis Girls’ SHS, 250; and Nandom SHS 165. Unfortunately, almost all these schools were chosen by over 1,000 candidates each this year.
Last year for instance, 2,310 candidates chose Achimota School, however, 572 were admitted. PRESEC Legon was chosen by 2,192 candidadates but 754 were admitted. Accra Academy and St Mary’s SHS where chosen by 2,005 and 1,137 candidates, however, 513 and 297 respectively gained admission.
In the Eastern Region, St Rose’s SHS was selected by 1,145 but 289 were admitted, while Aburi Girls and St Peter’s SHS were also chosen by 2,323 and 1,289 candidates but only 599 and 294 gained admission respectively.
The Central Region which has most of the Category ‘A’ schools had 1,803 selecting Advisedly College out of which 548 were admitted; Holy Child School had 1,843 entries but 537 were chosen; Mfantsipim School had 1,488 entries with 504 admissions; Ghana National College 1,024 but only 37 were selected; Wesley Girls High School, 1,748 with 654 admissions; Mfantsiman Girls, Aggrey Memorial A.M.E Zion, and St Augustine’s College had 677, 682 and 1,773 entries in that order but 52, 30 and 460 students gained admission respectively.
In the Ashanti Region, St Louis SHS, T.I. Ahmadiyya SHS, Prempeh College, Anglican SHS and Yaa Asantewaa Girls were chosen by 2,499, 3,008, 1,936, 5,524 and 1,880 candidates respectively however, 424, 512, 594, 687 and 467 were selected respectively.
The National Co-ordinator of the CSSPS, Mr Samuel Oppong, disclosed to the Junior Graphic in an interview that the heads of the various SHSs attributed the need to cut down on admission to the lack of dormitories and classrooms for students. Therefore, he said parents should not be suprised if their children do not make it to some of the schools mentioned..
This year, a total of 372, 826 sat for the Basic Education Certificate Examination and would be vying for admission to the 503 SHSs in the country.