CSSPS moves into action end of August

Story: Hadiza Nuhhu-Billa Quansah
The Computerised Schools Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) is to move into action the end of this August to place all qualified candidates into the senior high schools (SHSs).
Although the results for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) is already out, the Secretariat which is patiently waiting for the raw scores from the West Africa Examinations Council to enable it run it’s system is expected to complete the entire placement procedure by the mid of September to enable fresh students start school by the end of September.
The National Co-ordinator of the CSSPS, Mr Samuel Oppong, who disclosed this to the Junior Graphic, in an interview explained that this year communities with SHSs and technical institutions (TIs) stand the chance of placing 30 per cent of candidates within their catchment area that is “the school must be 16km within the community the school is situated”.
Mr Oppong spelt out that the reason for the 30 per cent allocation is to enable potential candidates get access to schools within their communities. “Therefore if you did schooled within the area you will not be considered for placement even if that area is your hometown”, he added.
According to him, qualification for this allocation must be within the minimum pass mark of aggregate 30. However, he said merit will apply when the number of interested candidates exceed the vacancies available.
He pointed out that the 30 per cent allocation is opened to candidates from both the public and private junior high schools.
This year, three categories of candidates will be placed. That is the current candidates, qualified BECE candidates who were unable to get admission into, or deferred their admission into, SHS or TIs within the immediate past three years and foreign candidates (Ghanaian citizens in abroad who want to school in Ghana).
In all, six subjects would be used for the placement. They are the four core subjects namely: English Language, Mathematics, Integrated Science, Social Studies and two other best subjects.
Mr Oppong mentioned that some of the problems of the placement each year is shading of wrong codes and parents changing schools indiscriminately. In order to correct this defect, the Secretariat is urging parents to ascertain the exact schools their wards selected by texting the index number of the candidate and add 11 to it (in all you should have 12 digits) and send to 1477 for confirmation before the system is run by the end of the month.
He cautioned parents to be wary of people who would approach them to pay money to enable them get their children placed in any school. “The Secretariat does not charge any money for placement therefore parents should not allow themselves to be extorted”.