MoE answers ‘all’ SHS/TVET placement frequently asked questions

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has provided answers to the top five frequently asked questions about this year’s second cycle school (SHS/TVET) placement of students who sat for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

In a social media post sighted by Pretertiary.com, the Education Ministry stated that the answers aim to clarify and guide parents, students, and stakeholders on the second-cycle school placement process.

8 SHS/TVET placement frequently asked questions

1. I have a transfer to the Volta region, but my ward had a day school in Accra. Can you please change the school to a Volta region school so I can visit him often? Yes, that will be done through self-placement.

2. My daughter had a day school in Accra, but we stay in Winneba. Please kindly change it for me, or else she can’t go to school. We can help through self-placement.

3. We are Catholic, and I don’t want my ward to go to a non-catholic school. He had a placement in non Catholic school, can he be replaced in a Catholic school? Yes, he can through self-placement.

4. My son’s name did not appear in the school list when we went to his school. But that was the school he got admitted to? Your ward will be self-placed in a different school that has available space.

5. My child did not get into a school; she had an aggregate of 40. She has been crying all day because her friends have gone to school. Your ward did not get into a school because of the grade he had. However, she will be self-placed.

6. I do not like the school my daughter had; I want to change the school for her. We encourage parents to participate in the selection of schools for their wards. Changing to an A school is not an option.

7. We went to the school my ward had, and we were told the school is full, so they can’t admit us. We could not go early due to financial constraints. We believe the school must be able to make provisions for every student who has been admitted. We will speak to the head, and if he or she still insists, then your ward will be placed in a different school through self-placement.

8. My ward had an aggregate 8. She chose Wesley Girls and Science as a course, but wasn’t admitted in that school her friend had the same grade, but she chose General Arts and was admitted. Isn’t it the same grade? Why was my daughter not admitted? Students are placed in schools based on the programmes and residency options they selected.

However, if a student with an aggregate of 10 selects a less competitive programme like General Arts or Home Economics, they may have a higher chance of gaining admission to the school – compared to someone who selects a highly competitive programme like Science.

Programmes such as General Arts, Visual Arts, Home Economics, and Business are all considered during the placement, and the competition varies depending on the number of applicants for each.

9. The schools I chose for my ward are not what is in the system of CSSPS, so what do I do now, I’ve a copy of it with the headmaster’s stamp: Even if your daughter had a better aggregate, a student with an aggregate of 7 will be selected before her because of the higher score.

10. When a candidate’s result for a particular subject is withheld, can he/she get a place? YES, if the withheld subject is not any of the four core subjects (English, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies). Six out of nine subjects are used for placement.

11. Is it possible for someone with aggregates 7 not to get access to a particular school, but another with aggregates 10 can get into the same school? YES, the program selected and residential status may differ from one candidate to another.

Therefore, the competition for slots may differ. For instance, in most cases, the science program of study is highly competitive over other programs, and so is a boarding accommodation status over a day status.

12. Is it possible for someone who did not choose a particular school to be placed in that school? NO. It is not possible during the automatic placement process. However, a candidate can get placement into a school through self-placement.

13. Can a candidate change residential status or program of study after placement? NO. A candidate usually get placed into a particular school based on their preferred program and the residency. A candidate competes for a slot in a particular school based on the preferences provided. Therefore, neither the residency nor the program of study can be changed.