Ministry of Education: SHS Placement is Free for JHS Graduates

The Ministry of Education has warned parents about the SHS placement system. It went live today. Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Clement Apaak, advised parents not to pay anyone for placement. In fact, he stressed that the process is free. “Placement is free,” he stated. He said anyone who demands money for placement is a “fraudster.” Moreover, he said people should report them to the police immediately. The minister’s warning aims to prevent fraud. It also ensures fairness.

The SHS placement system officially began today. Speaking in an interview, Dr. Apaak urged parents to have confidence in the system. The ministry has programmed the system to place students automatically. The team worked hard to avoid challenges from past years. In addition, they have worked to eliminate human intervention. This prevents biased and financially induced manipulation of the process.

Many parents scramble for places in Grade ‘A’ schools. However, these schools have very limited spaces. Consequently, Dr. Apaak advised parents to accept any placement. This is unless it is a gender-related error. He stressed that a student’s success does not depend on a Grade ‘A’ school. In fact, success depends on the student’s commitment. It also depends on discipline, parents, and school efforts. “Success is not predicated on attending a Grade ‘A’ school,” he emphasized. He acknowledged a disparity in facilities. Yet, he said this alone “cannot spell doom for a student.”

The CSSPS team has set up a resolution center. For instance, they will address genuine challenges there. The center is located at the GNAT Hall in Accra. On the directive of Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, the center will have adequate security. They will assist both staff and the public. “We expect to run a 24-hour resolution centre,” Dr. Apaak explained. They hope to resolve all issues quickly. The SHS placement system will ensure all issues are resolved. They will finish before students report to school. This process makes the SHS placement system more transparent.

Source: GraphicOnline