New BECE results-first system targets scramble for Ghana's top schools -CSSPS

Education officials say allowing candidates to see their BECE results before choosing Senior High Schools will help tackle the annual rush for Category A schools by encouraging more realistic choices.

Every year, tens of thousands of Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates compete for places in a handful of Ghana's most prestigious Senior High Schools. Education officials believe a new school selection system could change that.

The Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) Secretariat says allowing candidates to receive their examination results before selecting schools will help reduce the intense competition for Category A schools and make the placement process more efficient.

Sherif Sulemana, the CSSPS Secretariat Coordinator, said many students previously selected highly competitive schools without knowing whether their examination results would make them eligible for admission.

"The results will now guide the choices candidates make," he told Joy FM's Super Morning Show on Tuesday.

According to Mr Sulemana, last year's placement exercise highlighted the imbalance in school selection.

About 65% of candidates chose Category A schools, despite those schools accounting for only around 10% of the available places nationwide.

The disparity, he said, left thousands of candidates competing for a limited number of vacancies while many other schools had space available.

Under the revised system, candidates will first receive their BECE results before selecting their preferred Senior High Schools.

Officials say the move is intended to help students assess their academic standing and choose schools that better reflect their chances of gaining admission.

Placement will continue to be based on candidates' aggregate scores, programme choices, school preferences and the number of spaces available. Aggregate scores are calculated using four core subjects and the two best-performing elective subjects.

Mr Sulemana said the new approach should improve the distribution of students across the country's public Senior High Schools while easing pressure on a small number of highly sought-after institutions.

About 600,000 places have been declared for this year's Senior High School placement exercise.

Candidates will also be given an opportunity to review and correct any errors in their school selections before their choices are finalised.

Education authorities hope the changes will make the placement process more transparent while reducing disappointment among candidates who previously applied to highly competitive schools without knowing whether their examination results were strong enough.