Prospective Senior Secondary School Students await placement

Accra, Oct 3, GNA - While some fresh students entering the senior secondary schools (SSS) students reported on September 30, 2005 to begin the 2005 -2006 academic year others are still having problems with their placement under th e new Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).

When the Ghana News Agency visited the premises of the Ghana Education Service (GES) on Monday, disappointed parents were still seen trooping to the Public Relations Department despite notices that they should exercise restraint and wait for a public announcement through the media on the steps taken by GES regarding the placements. Some were there with their children while others were still presenting their petitions for changes to be made with their children's placement.

Most parents were disappointed because their children could not be placed in the schools of their choice especially public schools but were placed in private day schools either in the same region where they resided or outside.

GES announced at the press briefing on September 15 that 7,000 vacancies existed in some SSS. This was because the candidates did not choose those schools.

According to Mr Paul Krampa, Public Relations Officer, the parents did not want the schools that were still available.

He said even when he gave out the form that had the names of the schools that they could be placed they still wrote the names of schools that they wanted their children to attend which were already full. Mr Krampah said GES was still waiting for heads of SSS to declare their vacancies so that they could place the candidates.

One of the parents, a teacher, said he could not understand why his ward could not be placed in his school and said no matter the case he would make sure that his ward attended the school where he taught.