The Minister for Education, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, has promised Ghanaians that the Ministry is taking strong actions to address the ongoing issues with the school placement system nationwide.
In his remarks, the Minister confirmed that the placement process is open, clear, and accountable, but he recognized that the demand for secondary school spots greatly surpasses the available openings, putting pressure on the system each year.
Mr. Iddrisu highlighted the urgent need to expand infrastructure to support the increasing number of students.
He suggested a strategic review of school categories, which includes upgrading some Category B schools to Category A and providing new investments and facilities to regions lacking Category A schools.
He noted that areas like the North East and Savannah do not have any Category A schools, making it hard for students from those regions to compete fairly with peers from areas with better educational resources.
“We need a fairer placement system that offers every student, no matter where they are from, a real opportunity for quality education,” the Minister said.
Mr. Iddrisu also called for a larger budget to support these changes, which include expanding current Category A schools and building new facilities in areas that are underserved.
He also mentioned that the Ministry is struggling to fill 76,000 open positions with only 393 qualified candidates, highlighting the need for a thorough strategy to enhance the education sector through better infrastructure, teacher placement, and curriculum support.
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s dedication to ensuring that every qualified student has access to quality education, stressing that reforms to the placement system will prioritize fairness, inclusivity, and efficiency.