A CSSPS review is expected after Ghana’s current school placement exercise ends, with the Ministry of Education planning to examine how the system works.
The Ministry says a Technical Working Committee will assess the Computerised School Selection and Placement System and recommend changes to make it fairer, more transparent and efficient.
CSSPS review will examine the placement system
The Ministry announced the planned review in a statement issued on September 15, 2026.
It said the committee would examine the different components of the placement process and identify weaknesses that need to be addressed.
The review will take place after the ongoing placement exercise is completed.
The Ministry said the goal is to ensure that the system remains credible and responsive to the needs of students, parents and schools.
Parents have raised concerns over placements
The planned review comes after renewed concerns about the way the CSSPS operates.
Some parents and guardians have reported difficulties since the release of the 2026/2027 placement results.
Issues reported at a designated support centre included discrepancies involving school placements, residential status and programmes of study. Some parents also complained about long queues and delays in getting their concerns addressed.
These concerns have added pressure on authorities to improve the placement process.
More than 500,000 candidates have been placed
The 2026 placement exercise has involved hundreds of thousands of candidates.
According to the Ghana News Agency, 527,932 candidates had secured placement out of 604,567 candidates who qualified for placement in senior high schools, senior high technical schools and technical and vocational institutions.
That represented 87.3 per cent of qualified candidates.
However, 76,635 candidates were not automatically placed, with the Ministry attributing much of the challenge to high demand for Category A schools.
Candidates who were not automatically matched were advised to use the self-placement system to select schools and programmes with available vacancies.
The Ministry wants a fairer system
The Education Ministry said the planned review will focus on improving transparency and accountability.
It also wants the CSSPS to become more efficient and responsive to the concerns of its users.
The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference had previously called for greater transparency and accountability in the placement process, citing difficulties experienced by families.
The planned committee therefore comes at a time when the system is facing renewed public scrutiny.
New features have already been introduced
The review comes alongside other changes to the placement system.
The CSSPS was upgraded for the 2026 exercise to include an admission and enrolment portal. The upgrade allows parents and guardians to complete parts of the admission process and download admission forms without travelling to schools.
The official CSSPS portal also provides services for checking placements and self-placement.
Candidates who are not automatically placed can use self-placement to choose a school and programme with available space.
What happens after the exercise
The Ministry has not yet provided details about the membership of the Technical Working Committee.
It has also not announced a specific timeline for completing the review.
For now, the immediate focus remains on completing the current placement exercise and addressing outstanding concerns from students and parents.
The planned CSSPS review could eventually lead to changes in how students are matched with schools across Ghana.
Source: Yen
