TNR Files
The Ministry of Education has strongly rejected opposition claims that the government deliberately failed to place 57,259 BECE candidates as part of a plot to collapse the Free Senior High School programme, describing the allegation as a calculated propaganda tool.
At a press conference on Monday, Deputy Minister of Education Dr Clement Apaak dismissed the NPP’s assertion as “frivolous and completely false,” clarifying that the affected candidates were not placed automatically due to their examination performance, not a lack of school vacancies.
According to data from the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination, the 57,259 candidates in question either obtained a score of 9 in English Language, Mathematics, or both subjects, or failed to sit for the exams entirely.
The statistics show that 35,382 candidates scored a grade 9 in either English or Mathematics, while another 18,505 scored grade 9 in both core subjects. An additional 3,372 candidates did not sit for the exams and will not be placed at this stage; instead, they will be given the opportunity to resit the examination to progress.
To ensure the educational continuity of the students with grade 9s, the Ministry has announced that the Computerized School Selection and Placement System self-placement portal is now open to them. This window allows candidates to personally select from Senior High Schools, Senior High Technical Schools, and Technical and Vocational institutions that still have vacancies.
The Ministry emphasised that the challenge facing the 2026 placement exercise is not a shortage of space, but rather the concentration of candidates’ preferences in a few highly subscribed institutions.
Government declared a total of 859,828 vacancies across participating institutions, with substantial availability in Category B and Category C schools. Furthermore, 85 private Senior High Schools have been included in the Free SHS Programme for the 2026/2027 academic year to expand options.
Parents and guardians have been urged to guide their children in making practical choices by considering the wide range of institutions and programmes available across the country, rather than focusing solely on traditionally popular schools.
“Candidates who scored 9 should not see their results as the end of their educational journey,” the Minister stated. “The self-placement window provides a viable route to continue building their education and skills.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry has cautioned the public against paying individuals who promise to secure placements. It stressed that the placement process is completely free and warned that no money should be paid to anyone claiming to have influence over the system.
Candidates facing genuine difficulties have been advised to visit the placement resolution centres established at regional and national levels or rely on official Ghana Education Service and Ghana TVET Service channels for assistance.
The Ministry’s clarification comes as the opposition continues to weaponise the placement exercise for political gain, despite data showing that the government has created nearly 860,000 vacancies more than enough to accommodate all qualified candidates.