- Hundreds of parents and students gathered at the national resolution centre in Accra to address issues with the 2025 SHS computer placement system.
- Complaints ranged from students not being placed at all to being assigned schools they didn’t choose.
- Mismatches between day and boarding preferences, as well as distant placements, were common concerns.
- Deputy Education Minister Dr Clement Abas Apaak visited the centre and assured families that most issues would be resolved before schools reopen on October 18.
- He acknowledged the high demand for Grade A schools and urged families to consider other quality institutions across the country.
- Despite assurances, frustration remains high among affected families.
The national resolution centre in Accra was overwhelmed on Friday as hundreds of frustrated parents, guardians, and students sought answers over placement challenges in this year’s Senior High School (SHS) computerised selection process. By 8 a.m., the crowd had swelled to over 500, with families navigating long queues and tense conversations in hopes of securing a better outcome for their wards.
The complaints were varied but echoed a common theme—mismatched expectations. Some students were not placed at all, while others were assigned schools they never selected. Several day students were offered boarding options, and vice versa. Others were placed in schools far from their homes, raising concerns about travel, safety, and affordability.
One student, Sarah Appiah, was placed at Abease State College in Cape Coast despite living in Accra. Another, Evelyn Kwafie, who had selected only day schools, was assigned to a boarding institution in Kwahu. Parents like Kolog Boar expressed disappointment after requesting a girls’ day school, only to be given a mixed boarding option in Obuasi. A pastor, recently transferred to Kumasi, hoped to relocate his ward to a boarding school in the Eastern Region but was instead assigned a day school in Accra.
Deputy Minister of Education Dr Clement Abas Apaak visited the centre to assess the situation and reassure families. He acknowledged the system’s limitations, especially the overwhelming demand for Grade A schools, which far exceeds available slots. He emphasized that while not every student would get their first choice, the ministry was committed to placing every child in a school that meets their educational needs.
Dr Apaak said the ministry had anticipated placement challenges and intentionally scheduled the reopening date for October 18 to allow time for resolution. He promised that most cases would be addressed before then, though he admitted not every issue could be solved.
As the resolution team worked past 5 p.m., tensions remained high. For many families, the placement process has become a source of anxiety rather than celebration. With just weeks to go before schools reopen, the pressure is on to restore confidence in a system meant to streamline access—but currently struggling to meet expectations.
