Tensions flared at the GNAT Hall, one of the main self-placement centers in the Greater Accra Region, on Friday, September 19, as several parents and students were denied re-entry after stepping out to print documents required for the process.
The affected parents say they had already started the placement process but were forced to leave the premises temporarily to obtain the necessary paperwork, only to be barred from coming back inside upon their return.
Earlier in the day, scores of stranded parents and students thronged school placement resolution centers nationwide, forming long queues that stretched across the venues as they scrambled to secure Senior High School (SHS) admissions through the self-placement system.
Out of the 590,000 candidates who qualified for placement this year, more than 107,000 missed out on automatic school placement under the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) and must therefore complete self-placement to secure admission.
At GNAT Hall, many parents and students had arrived before daybreak, clutching documents and anxiously waiting for the process to begin, hoping to secure spaces in their preferred schools before the reporting date.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Education Minister, Dr. Clement Apaak, who visited the Accra center to monitor the process, said the government is working to resolve all cases before the official reporting date in October.
“Not every student will get their first choice, especially in the top-tier schools where demand is high. But there are equally good schools available that can meet their educational needs.
“Our teams are on the ground to assist, and we are confident that the majority of cases will be resolved,” he said.
Dr. Apaak explained that the reporting date of October 18 was deliberately set to provide enough time for the ministry to address all placement challenges.
“Even if we are not able to resolve every single case immediately, most will be settled well ahead of the reporting date,” he assured.