SHS placement is being reviewed by the MoE.
SHS placement is being reviewed: According to Mr. Enoch Gyetuah, the Ministry of Education is undertaking study to examine the 30% senior high school placement policy that allows public junior high school pupils to be put in “Category A” second-cycle schools.
Speaking in an interview monitored by our editorial team, the Private Schools Council Director, Mr Gyetuah said the 30% allotment of placement into ‘Category A’ schools for public Junior High School students’ approach is a laissez-fair policy.
“The Minister for Education meet us last Monday and he said after research into the computer school placement of BECE graduates, he will see how best the review of the 30% quota policy will be done,” the GNACOPS Director said.
Citing discrimination against private BECE graduates, the Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) Executive Director has called for a total scrap of the 30% Category A school placement policy rather than the review.
“We don’t agree to the review of the policy, it is not about a review is about a total scrap of the 30% quota school placement policy because it is undermining quality education in the country,” Obengfo Kwasi Gyetuah stressed.
But deputy spokesman for the Ministry of Education, Ernest Arkosah reacting to Gyetuah’s concern says the 30% of school placement is allotted to public Junior High Schools to ensure equity in the placement of BECE graduates.
Explaining the 30% placement quota, the Education Ministry official said such a percentage is allotted to public students because the learning facilities in public schools are not adequate, as compared to those in private institutions.
“We (Ministry of Education) have what we call 30% equity quota that we give to those who attended public schools because, if you look at the infrastructure and logistics in the government Junior High Schools (JHS) in the country
we try to also create that enabling environment so that they can also have the opportunity to taste what is happening at Presbyterian Boys Secondary School, Achimota Senior High School and other Category A schools,” Mr Enerst said.
Asked whether students are placed based on their school selection or grade, he said the computer school placement purely based on merit also depends on the aggregate, raw score and available vacancies in various second cycle schools.
“We look at the aggregate, raw score, and available vacancies, adding that some students choose Category B schools out of fear that they may not get into any Category A Senior High/Technical Schools,” the MoE spokesperson noted.
Out of a total number of 547,324 candidates who participated in this year’s BECE, 539,399 qualified for placement in their preferred choices; 372,780 were automatically placed, while 165,601 were not, requiring them to do for self-placement.
