SHS/TVET placement not based on a ‘fixed’ aggregate score – MoE

The Ministry of Education (MoE) says the computerised second-cycle school placement system is not based on a fixed aggregate score system, as widely circulated on various social media platforms.

According to the Ministry, the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) takes into account the aggregate and raw scores of students, the availability of vacancies in schools, and the popularity of specific programmes.

“The second cycle school placement is based on a combination of factors, including aggregate and raw scores, availability of vacancies in the various schools and programmes of study

Limited vacancies and high competition can affect the second-cycle school placement,” the Ministry of Education stated in a statement sighted by Pretertiary.com dated August 30, 2025.

The Ministry in Charge of Education said that no form of payment or inducement is required or solicited from parents, guardians or their representatives for the purpose of securing second-cycle school placement.

“All interactions with the Ministry of Education (MoE) and Ghana Education Service (GES) officials are expected to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and transparency

The public is advised to be cautious and report any cases of extortion or bribery attempts related to student placements. Stakeholders are encouraged to report miscreants to the nearest police station,” it said.

The Education Ministry added, “We reaffirm our commitment to ensure placement is merit-based and we urge parents, students, teachers and the public to disregard this fake news and rely only on the official communication from the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service and the TVET services.

Relatedly, the Ghana Education Service (GES) says no cut-off points will be used in this year’s second cycle school (SHS/TVET) placement of students who sat for the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

GES comment follows reports circulating on social media and other platforms suggesting that fixed cut-off points are being used in the 2025 edition of the second-cycle school (SHS/TVET) placement process.

According to the cut-off point, students with an aggregate of 6 – 10 will get their first choice of selected second-cycle school, those with 11 – 19 their second choice, 20 -29 their third or fourth choice, 30 – 35 their fifth choice and students with an aggregate of 35 will do self-placement.

But in a social media post sighted by Pretertiary.com, the Ghana Education Service (GES) stated that the placement of candidates, which will be transparent and fair, is primarily based on raw scores.

It said other factors, including the level of subscription or competitiveness of a school, the demand for a particular programme, the candidate’s aggregate, residential preferences such as day or boarding, and catchment area considerations.

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) participating 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 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for Private Candidates.  Out of the total number of candidates who entered for the examination, fifty-seven (57) were absent.