GES warns SHSs Heads against rejecting students placed by CSSPS

The management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has cautioned heads of second-cycle schools (Senior High Schools) across the country against turning away first-year students who have been placed in their schools under the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).

The Ghana Education Service warning follows reports that some headteachers of government second-cycle schools are refusing admission to students placed in their schools for reasons that are not valid.

The statement issued by the Director for Schools and Instructions Division, Prince C. Agyemang-Duah, said that every student officially placed in a school must be received and processed for admission without exception.

“Management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has observed with concern reports that some heads of Senior High Schools are turning away students who have been placed in their schools under the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS),” the Ghana Education Service stated.

It warned school headteachers that “You are hereby cautioned not to turn away any student who has been officially placed in your school by the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).”

The Ghana Education Service (GES) management indicated that all placed students are to be received and properly processed for admission as per the Ghana Education Service (GES) guidelines.

GES advised that any concerns regarding placement, programme selection, accommodation or related issues should be formally reported through the Regional Director of Education to the Director-General for resolution.

“Any challenges or concerns regarding placement, programme choice, accommodation, or other related issues should be promptly channeled to the Director-General through the Regional Director of Education for appropriate redress,” GES stated.

The Education Service in the statement dated October 20, 2025, cautioned that failure to comply may result in administrative sanctions against offending heads of Senior High Schools (SHSs).

Relatedly, the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has cautioned headteachers of various Senior High Schools (SHSs) under the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme against denying admission to students who have been duly placed in their schools.

The Education Minister speaking at the 32nd Annual Conference of Directors of Education held in Sunyani, in the Bono Region, also cautioned the head of schools against charging students unapproved fees.

Mr Haruna Iddrisu’s warning follows reports that some second-cycle school heads are frustrating the enrollment of first-year students and engaging in acts of extortion, particularly charging Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA) fees.

The Education Minister described such practices as unacceptable and detrimental to the government’s vision of providing equitable access to free and quality education for all Ghanaian children.

He emphasized that every student placed through the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) must be admitted without discrimination or additional financial demands beyond the officially approved fees.

Mr Haruna, citing discipline, transparency, and fairness in the education sector, cautioned that any headteacher found guilty of misconduct will face appropriate administrative and legal sanctions.

In line with the Ghana Education Service and the Minister of Education, the Free Senior High School Secretariat has also cautioned heads of Senior High Schools against rejecting students who have been officially placed in their schools, warning that any school found culpable will be publicly named and reported to the Ghana Education Service (GES) for sanctions.

The Secretariat warning follows numerous complaints from parents that some schools had refused to admit their wards, claiming the students’ names were not on their admission lists, despite verification at the placement centre confirming their legitimacy.

In an interview, the Deputy Coordinator of the Free Senior High School Secretariat, Dr. Belinda Glover, expressed concern over the development, stressing that each placement corresponds to available spaces declared by the schools.

“Some parents come around saying they went to some schools and were turned away because their names were not on the list. Meanwhile, when they came here, their names were indeed on the list. So we are pleading with schools to stop. If a student is posted to your school, please assist them to register,” she said.