Ghana's SHS Placement Crisis: Education Ministry Dispels Falsehoods, Urges Caution Against Bribery

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has strongly urged parents, guardians, and the general public to report any individuals soliciting money in connection with the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS). This call comes amid persistent allegations of illicit payments to secure school placements. Hashmin Mohammed, Press Secretary to the Minister for Education, emphasized that school placement is strictly merit-based, and no fees are required from parents, guardians, or students by officials from the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service (GES), Ghana Technical and Vocational Education and Training (Ghana TVET), or the CSSPS itself.

Mr. Mohammed encouraged anyone encountering demands for payment to report such instances to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. He acknowledged the ongoing emergence of payment allegations in the public domain but highlighted the Ministry's difficulty in investigating these claims effectively when complainants fail to provide evidence or cooperate with investigators. He stressed that the Ministry of Education cannot tackle this issue alone, necessitating the active cooperation of the public in providing concrete information to ensure successful investigations and prosecutions. This, he noted, would serve to demonstrate the Ministry's unwavering commitment to maintaining fairness and integrity within the placement system.

Concurrently, the Ghana Education Service (GES) has firmly rejected claims of a nationwide crisis regarding this year’s Senior High School (SHS) placements. Daniel Fenyi, Head of Public Relations at the GES, affirmed that there is no shortage of spaces, with approximately 800,000 available vacancies for the slightly over 600,000 students seeking SHS admission. This surplus, he explained, clearly indicates that the current challenges faced by some parents and students are not due to a lack of capacity within the school system.

Mr. Fenyi highlighted significant improvements in the automatic placement process this year. Approximately 527,000 students were automatically placed, a notable increase from 483,000 in 2025 and 447,000 in 2024. Furthermore, the number of students resorting to self-placement has sharply declined from 107,000 last year to 53,000 as of September 10, with the registration process still ongoing. Cumulatively, between 93% and 95% of students have successfully secured placement through either automatic or self-placement channels. Mr. Fenyi strongly dismissed suggestions of a nationwide crisis, terming such narratives as