GES releases BECE 2024 Second-cycle school selection guidelines
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has released second-cycle school selection guidelines to guide students who sat for the 2024 Basic Education Certificate Examination on their selection of Senior High School for computer placement.
Per the second cycle school selection guidelines document sighted by Pretertiary.com, 30% of the total vacancies declared by each category ‘A’ Senior High second cycle schools are reserved for candidates from public Junior High Schools.
“This means that 30% of the total vacancies declared by all Category ‘A’ second cycle schools is set aside for public Junior High School candidates who have selected that particular category,” the selection guidelines document explained.
SHS selection guidelines
a) Cannot choose more than one (1) School from Category A
b) Cannot select more than two (2) schools from Category B
c) May select five (5) schools from Category C and One (1) from Category D (Day) or Appendix 3 (Special Boarding).
d) Lastly, candidates who wish to offer purely TVET Programmes must select all six (6) TVET Institutes from CATEGORY A, B and C as Day or Boarding.
Cluster Choices
a) Select 5 schools (1 Category A, 2 Category B and at least 2 Category C) from Appendix ‘4’ for consideration of 2nd placement if not placed in any of the six 6 main choices.
b) Schools in the main choices must not be repeated in the cluster
c) Candidates who wish to offer purely TVET programmes can select all choices from TVET institutions in Category A, B and C as Day or Boarding
d) Lastly, candidates who wish to offer programme choice in relation to future job prospects such as Engineering, Physicians, Astronauts etc must select STEM/Science in all six choices from Category A, B and C as Day or Boarding.
Selection Criteria
Candidates who wish to enter SHS/TVET schools must with guidance from parents/guardians and school authorities;
a) Select 6 schools and rank them in order of preference with the first being the most preferred choice (main choice)
b) Select programmes and residential preferences for each choice of school.
c) Select compulsory Day school as the 6th choice within 16km of the JHS attended or choose Boarding school from the list of schools in Appendix ‘3’ (Special Boarding).
Do’s of SHS selection
1. Ensure you pay close attention to ALL of your school choices
2. Ensure that the schools are in order of preference from your first priority to the least priority.
3. Ensure that your compulsory Day option is within your catchment area where you can conveniently commute.
5. Ensure that you consult your child/ward’s teacher to obtain a realistic prospect of the child’s chances of gaining admission to a particular school.
6. In the case of Technical Programmes, ensure that you consult the school register to verify that the schools you select offer your desired programmes.
Don’ts of SHS selection
1. Do not outsource school choices to someone without your express involvement.
2. Do not leave school choices to an internet cafe attendant in the case of self-placement.
3. Do not assume that you can choose a school as a Day Student and switch to Boarding upon admission.
4. Do not assume that you can choose a ‘less competitive’ Programme at a school and switch to a ‘more competitive’ one upon admission.
5. Do not choose schools based on where your friends are going or what programmes they want to read.
