Education Ministry urged to review computerised SSS selection

Apam (CR), Sept. 9, GNA - A number of parents in Apam, Saltpond and Mankessim, have appealed to the government to review the Junior Secondary School Computerised Selection and Placement System (CESSPPS) into senior secondary schools (SSS), which was introduced this year. Some parents interviewed by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Thursday, said the system would deprive the poor from sending their children to senior secondary schools as it appeared to encourage the boarding system.

Mr Kow Nana Obosu of Apam appealed to the government to suspend the system until enough hostel facilities had been provided in all schools. Ms Adjoa Mensah, a trader at Mankessim blamed the authorities of the Ghana Education Service for failing to bring to book heads of senior secondary schools who demanded and collected bribes before admitting candidates.

She stated that if some of them were identified and summarily dismissed it would serve as a deterrent to others. Miss Mary Mensah, a seamstress at Saltpond was of the opinion that the education Ministry's attempt to eliminate bribery in the admission process had created more financial and other problems for parents and candidates.

She said the new system had negated the opportunity for poor parents to enrol their children in schools in or around their communities as day students, saying "many parents can hardly afford the high boarding fees".

Investigations conducted by the GNA indicated that under the new system only eight candidates from the area obtained admission into the Apam Secondary School, while many candidates from the vicinity who chose the school as their first choice had places in other schools outside the District as boarders.

The government in an attempt to encourage students to attend school within their areas as day students made it mandatory for senior secondary schools to reserve 30 per cent of admissions for candidates from their area.

Most of the candidates from the area who failed to get placement in their first choice schools had been advised to apply for admission into institutions in the Volta, Northern, Upper East, West and Brong Ahafo regions.

Only Cape Coast Technical and Asuansi Technical schools in the Central Region still had vacancies, which meant that parents who wanted their children to attend schools in the Region could seek admission there if they wanted to pursue technical courses.