The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has called for an independent review of the ongoing Senior High School (SHS) placement exercise, citing allegations of bribery, unfair admissions, inappropriate school placements and the growing influence of “protocol” arrangements.
The Bishops said although the Computerised School Selection and Placement System was introduced to promote fairness and equal access, recurring problems continued to undermine public confidence in the exercise. In a statement signed by the President of the Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Bishop of Sunyani, they said the process must be transparent, accountable and responsive to genuine complaints.
According to the Conference, 604,567 candidates qualified for placement this year, but only 527,932 had been placed when the results were released. It acknowledged that placement depended on factors including academic performance, programme choices, boarding or day preferences and available spaces, but insisted that the outcomes must be understandable and demonstrably fair.
The Bishops expressed concern over reports of students being placed in schools unsuitable for their sex, disability, circumstances or location. They particularly criticised situations where students are assigned to day schools located so far from their homes that daily attendance becomes expensive, unreasonable or unsafe. They also demanded swift correction of genuine placement errors and appropriate arrangements for students with disabilities.
The Conference was also alarmed by allegations that parents are being asked to pay money to secure places for their children. It said no official, agent or intermediary should demand or accept payment if placement is intended to be free, and called for investigations into such allegations. Those found culpable, it said, should face disciplinary action and, where necessary, criminal prosecution.
The Bishops further demanded clarity on the controversial practice of “protocol” admissions, insisting that the public deserves to know the legal basis, number of places involved, criteria used and persons responsible for such arrangements. They warned that the placement system could not command public confidence if parents believed that money, political connections or influence could secure places for some children at the expense of others.
On mission schools, the Conference renewed its call for the implementation of its decision to reserve 20 per cent of annual admissions in Catholic mission schools for Catholic candidates. It said the decision was reached at the National Catholic Education Forum in Koforidua in 2025 and was not a new demand. The Bishops argued that the arrangement would help mission schools maintain a meaningful population of students who could participate in their religious and moral formation.
The Conference also called for the long-awaited agreement between the government and the Churches on the management of mission schools to be concluded and signed without further delay. It said the agreement should clearly define responsibilities for admissions, governance, appointment of headteachers, religious and moral formation, discipline, infrastructure and accountability, while protecting the distinct identity of mission schools.
The Bishops proposed an accessible appeals mechanism, periodic review of school categories and increased government investment in infrastructure, teachers, laboratories and learning materials to reduce pressure on highly sought-after schools. They maintained that technology should support justice rather than replace human responsibility, and urged the government to build a placement system in which merit, choice, fairness and the best interests of the child determine admission outcomes.
By: Daniel Orlando/newsalertgh.com
