Minister of Education and Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Honourable Haruna Iddrisu, has warned individuals demanding money from parents and students for senior high school placement through the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).

Honourable Iddrisu directed parents and students who encounter such demands to report the telephone numbers and payment details provided by suspected intermediaries to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service. He emphasised that placement under the CSSPS remains free for all eligible students.

The Education Minister explained that his ministry, through the CSSPS Secretariat and its media team, has repeatedly communicated the free nature of the process to the public. He further disclosed that more than 850,000 vacancies have been declared across the country for students who successfully completed the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

According to Honourable Iddrisu, the available spaces exceed the number of students who wrote and passed the BECE, meaning every qualified candidate should secure admission into a senior high school within the available categories.

“If you have the evidence, share it with us. We will deal ruthlessly and decisively with any person selling placement, even recruitment.”
Honourable Haruna Iddrisu

Furthermore, the Education Minister revealed that investigations into alleged illegal recruitment activities had already led to two individuals being identified and handed over to the CID. He consequently urged members of the public to provide concrete evidence that could enable authorities to investigate similar allegations involving placement.

However, Honourable Iddrisu acknowledged the frustration confronting some parents and students during the placement exercise. He explained that much of the difficulty stems from the intense demand for particular Category A and B schools, despite the availability of places across the three categories.

The Minister noted that some students who failed Mathematics, English Language or both at Grade 9 level also fall within a group requiring additional placement arrangements. He disclosed that between 53,000 and 55,000 students in this category could use the self-placement option to secure admission.

Additionally, Honourable Iddrisu explained that the CSSPS Secretariat continues to manage other placement considerations, including gender-related arrangements. He therefore urged parents to rely on official channels and resist individuals who claim they can secure preferred schools in exchange for payment.

Against this backdrop, the Education Minister reiterated that the government’s priority is ensuring that every eligible student gains access to secondary education. He stressed that parents may face difficulty securing their first-choice Category A or B institution, although available vacancies provide alternative opportunities for qualified candidates.

850,000 Vacancies Open As Placement Pressure Mounts

Education Minister Honourable Haruna Iddrisu also attributed some of the current challenges surrounding senior high school placement to inadequate infrastructure expansion following the introduction of the Free Senior High School policy.

The Member of Parliament for Tamale South argued that the rapid growth in student numbers required corresponding investment in classrooms, dormitories, laboratories and other facilities. He criticised the previous administration for expanding access without providing sufficient infrastructure to accommodate the resulting demand.

imgupscaler enhanced 2 1 — Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum

Referencing specific institutions, Honourable Iddrisu noted that Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School, Legon, commonly known as PRESEC, has grown from about 2,400 students in 2018 to more than 4,000. He similarly pointed to Achimota School, where the student population has risen from roughly 2,000 to more than 4,000.

The Education Minister explained that the pressure created by these increases has affected the use of school facilities. He cited situations where students have relied on dining halls and assembly halls in shifts, arguing that such arrangements demonstrate the need for sustained infrastructure development.

Furthermore, Honourable Iddrisu outlined the government’s three-pronged response to the placement challenge, with infrastructure expansion forming a central component. He disclosed that the government’s Strategic Transformation and Acceleration Programme, supported by a $300 million World Bank facility, would convert 20 Category B schools into Category A institutions while 10 new model Category A schools would also be constructed.

Additionally, the Minister revealed plans to dedicate between GH¢250 million and GH¢300 million from the 2027 Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) allocation towards expanding infrastructure in 10 Category A schools. He explained that targeted expansion could enable institutions such as Achimota, PRESEC, Accra Academy and Prempeh College to accommodate more students through additional dormitories, classrooms and laboratories.

Honourable Iddrisu also challenged former Education Minister and Bosomtwe MP, Honourable Yaw Osei Adutwum, to account for the previous administration’s approach to education infrastructure. He questioned the rationale for seeking advice from a minister whose tenure, in his assessment, left significant challenges surrounding double-track education and school capacity.

“If over an eight-year period, you introduce Free Senior High School, fail to support it with expanded infrastructure to accommodate the exponential increase in numbers, you don’t blame government for it.”
Honourable Haruna Iddrisu

Beyond senior high school placement, the Education Minister criticized the “inadequate attention to foundational learning under the previous administration.” He identified literacy and numeracy at the basic education level as critical foundations for preparing young people for future academic and professional demands.

According to Honourable Iddrisu, the current administration therefore inherited an education system requiring substantial intervention across infrastructure, feeding and foundational learning. He pointed to President John Mahama’s decision to uncap GETFund financing as part of efforts to strengthen funding for school feeding and address challenges inherited by the government.

Meanwhile, the Minister rejected suggestions that President Mahama’s appointment of him reflects a failure of confidence in his leadership. He argued that the administration assigned him the education portfolio precisely to confront existing difficulties and implement measures capable of improving the system.