MoE to probe ‘SHS/TVET’ computer placement bribery allegations

The Ministry of Education (MoE) says it will seriously investigate any allegation of second-cycle school placement bribery in this year’s computer school placement of students who sat for the 2025 BECE.

The Education Ministry’s assurance follows a widely circulated social media post attributed to one Gertrude Adzo Borklo, alleging that placement into Aburi Girls’ Senior High School costs GH¢15,000.

In a statement sighted by Pretertiary.com, it said the claim, unfortunately, appears to feed into a conspiratorial narrative to create the false impression that the computerized school placement is for sale.

“The Ministry views this allegation with the utmost seriousness and has initiated an immediate investigation into the matter. However, attempts to reach the author of the original post have proven unsuccessful, as her account messenger was deactivated shortly after the publication,” MoE stated.

According to the Ministry in Charge of Education, some individuals are also using anonymous or ghost accounts to spread similar falsehoods about the sale of placement into Category A second-cycle schools.

“The Ministry of Education has further observed that other individuals, using anonymous or “ghost” accounts, are amplifying similar falsehoods.

In response, the Ministry is collaborating closely with National Security, the Cyber Security Authority, and other agencies to track down these people to assist in investigating this matter,” it noted.

The MoE added, “The Ministry of Education wishes to state categorically that the BECE Computerized School Placement System is entirely free of charge. At no point is payment required to access this service.

We call on members of the public to provide any information or evidence of persons, whether Ministry officials or third parties, who demand money for placements. The Ministry assures swift and decisive action against any individual found culpable.”

The Ministry has therefore urged members of the public to report any such school placement sale or fraud incidents through the following dedicated hotlines: 054 154 8223 (Calls), 024 490 8957 (WhatsApp)

“Together, we can safeguard the integrity and transparency of Ghana’s school placement system a nd weed out unscrupulous people who seek to benefit unduly from this important national exercise,” it said in the statement dated September 25, 2025, signed by Deputy Minister for Education, Dr Clement Apaak.

A total of 590,309 BECE candidates this year qualified for second-cycle school (SHS/TVET) placement. Out of this, 483,800 were placed automatically, while 107,000 secured schools through self-placement.

According to the Ministry of Education, of the 483,800 BECE graduates who secured automatic second-cycle school placement, 234,783, representing 48.6% were boys, and 248,038, representing 51.4% were girls.

It indicated that 82 per cent (82%) of qualified students who sat for the 2025 edition of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) have been placed in their first-choice second-cycle schools.

This year, a total of 603,328 candidates, comprising 297,250 males and 306,078 females, from nineteen thousand, five hundred and five (19,505) Junior High Schools (JHSs) entered for the school examination.

This includes seventy-two (72 ) candidates with visual impairment, two hundred and thirty-nine (239) with hearing impairment, and one hundred and sixty-one (161) candidates with other test accommodation needs.

The examination was conducted at two thousand, two hundred and thirty-seven (2,237 ) centres across the country. Out of the total number, two thousand, five hundred and twenty-six (2,526) candidates were absent.

The BECE for Private Candidates recorded a total entry figure of one thousand, three hundred and ninety (1,661) candidates. This was made up of eight hundred and fifty-eight (858) males and eight hundred and three (803 ) females.

Fifteen (15) centres, mostly in the regional capitals, were used for the BECE for Private Candidates. Out of the total number of candidates who entered for the examination, fifty-seven (57) were absent.