Climax TV
The Ministry of Education has welcomed calls by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference for greater transparency and accountability in the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS), saying it is prepared to undertake a comprehensive review of the process.
The Ministry said the review would seek to strengthen the credibility, fairness and efficiency of the placement system while addressing concerns raised by stakeholders.
In a statement signed by the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, the Ministry said it recognised the need for continuous improvement of the CSSPS.
“The Ministry of Education welcomes the call by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference for greater transparency, accountability and the ultimate review of the Computerised School Selection and Placement System,” the statement said.
The Ministry stressed that the CSSPS is fundamentally a merit-based system, with merit taking precedence over protocol in the placement of qualified candidates.
“Merit takes precedence over protocol in the placement of qualified candidates,” the Ministry said, adding that the system is designed to ensure that placement decisions are based on established criteria and that qualified students are treated fairly.Advertisement
According to the Ministry, a Technical Working Committee will be established after the conclusion of the current placement exercise to conduct a comprehensive review of the system.
The committee will examine the various components of the placement process, identify areas that require improvement and recommend measures to strengthen transparency and accountability.
The review, the Ministry said, is intended to ensure that the CSSPS remains “credible, efficient, fair and responsive” to the needs of students, parents and schools.
The Education Ministry also reiterated that placement under the CSSPS is free of charge, warning parents and candidates against paying money to secure placements or have existing placements changed.
“No parent or candidate is required to pay money to secure a placement or to have a placement changed,” the Ministry stated.
It further urged parents and guardians who have credible evidence of officials or intermediaries demanding money in connection with school placement to report such cases to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.
The Ministry said such reports could involve officials of the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service, the CSSPS Secretariat, the Ghana Technical and Vocational Education and Training system, or any third party.
It also assured complainants that their identities would be protected.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the integrity of the CSSPS and ensuring that merit, fairness and transparency remain central to the school placement process.
