The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has asked parents and the general public to grant him an additional year to tackle the persistent problems with the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS), pledging reforms that will bring more openness to the process.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series, the Minister admitted that issues with Senior High School placements have continued, noting that limited facilities and rising demand have made it hard to resolve them completely.
“You may have to give me another year, then I’ll be better off in resolving the school placement issues,” he said. He revealed that a committee has been put together to examine the placement system to ensure admissions to schools are determined by merit instead of personal connections or political interference.
“We have had to set up a review committee of the placement system itself and to subject it to questions. Does it respect merit? And is it done on the basis of favouritism? And politicians taking advantage of it to reward protocol and not merit?” he stated.
According to the Minister, the government plans to roll out a clearer and more transparent placement approach where students will choose their preferred senior high schools only after their BECE results are out.
He also announced that the results for the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) are expected to be published on or before July 31, which will kick off the placement exercise.
He emphasised that releasing the results is the sole responsibility of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), and said he will not meddle in the work of the examining body. “As I’ve always indicated as Minister, I don’t interfere with the work of assessment institutions of WAEC. It is within their domain,” he said.
The Minister further noted that government is working to expand educational infrastructure through programs such as the Sustainable Development for Improved Access to Tertiary Education and Jobs (STAR-J) project to help ease pressure on senior high school admissions.
