The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has called for a full review of Ghana’s senior high school placement system, demanding transparency over alleged “protocol” admissions into sought-after schools and an independent investigation into claims that parents are being asked to pay for placements.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Bishops said growing concerns around the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) risk undermining public confidence in the fairness of admissions .
“We are especially troubled by allegations that parents are asked to pay money to secure places for their children,” the Bishops said. “If placement is meant to be free, no official, agent, or intermediary should request or accept payment for it” .
They called for such allegations to be investigated, with those found culpable facing disciplinary measures and, where warranted, criminal charges. However, the Bishops cautioned that unproven allegations should not damage the reputations of honest public servants .
Demand for Transparency on ‘Protocol’ Admissions
The Conference demanded urgent clarity on the practice of so-called “protocol” admissions—discretionary arrangements through which places in competitive schools are allegedly reserved for connected individuals.
“If places in sought-after schools are set aside through discretionary arrangements, the public deserves to know their legal basis, the number of places involved, the criteria applied, and who is responsible,” they said .
The Bishops warned that the placement system cannot command public confidence if parents believe that money, connections, or influence can secure opportunities unavailable to other qualified students .
Placement Statistics and Concerns
The Bishops noted that 604,567 candidates qualified for placement this year, with 527,932 placed when the results were released . The Ghana Education Service has since stated that nearly 95% of students have now been placed through automatic and self-placement combined .
However, the Conference raised concerns over students allegedly being placed in schools unsuitable for their sex, disability, circumstances, or location. They called for genuine placement errors to be corrected quickly through accessible channels, with priority attention to cases involving disability, medical needs, and serious distance difficulties .
The Bishops also called for the placement system to be examined by independent technical experts, with the main findings made public. They proposed a stronger appeals process with clear procedures and time limits, and suggested the government consider appointing an independent official to handle unresolved complaints .
Renewed Push for Mission Schools Agreement
Beyond the placement system, the Bishops renewed their call for the long-awaited agreement between government and Churches on the management of mission schools to be concluded. They said the agreement should clearly spell out responsibilities for admissions, governance, appointment of head teachers, religious and moral formation, discipline, infrastructure, and accountability .
The Conference also reaffirmed its decision to reserve 20% of annual admissions to Catholic mission schools for Catholic candidates—a decision reached at the National Catholic Education Forum in Koforidua in 2025 .
“We are therefore instructing the National Catholic Secretariat’s education office to prepare, without delay, a clear plan for implementing this decision across our schools,” they said.
The Bishops insisted that any such arrangement must be transparent, subject to annual audit, and strictly prohibit the exchange of money. They said the ultimate goal should be a placement system where “merit, choice, fairness, and above all the good of the child determine who is admitted where” .
Broader Context of Placement Crisis
The Bishops’ intervention comes amid widespread frustration over the 2026 placement exercise. Parents have reported irregularities including placements being changed after printing, students being assigned to schools for the deaf despite having no hearing impairment, and allegations of officials demanding up to GH¢13,000 to facilitate placements .
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has acknowledged challenges with the CSSPS, attributing the pressure to a massive imbalance between demand and supply for Category A schools. He disclosed that 328,000 students selected Category A schools but only 76,000 vacancies were available .
The government has announced plans to build 10 new Category A model schools, convert 20 Category B schools to Category A status, and upgrade 30 Category C schools to Category B, funded partly by a $300 million World Bank facility .
The Ministry of Education has extended the placement exercise by one week, with resolution centres operating through Friday, September 18, ahead of the September 18 school reopening .
