The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference is demanding an independent investigation into reports that some parents are being asked to pay money to secure senior high school placements for their children.
The Conference says the allegations threaten public confidence in the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS), which was introduced to promote fairness, efficiency and equal access to education.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Bishops said the annual placement exercise continues to leave students and parents anxious, frustrated and concerned about alleged unfair practices.
They stressed that education is a fundamental right and that no child should be denied a suitable school, subjected to manipulation or humiliated in the course of seeking placement.
The Conference said reports of parents being asked to pay for placements are particularly troubling.
“If placement is meant to be free, no official, agent, or intermediary should request or accept payment for it.”
It has therefore called for the allegations to be thoroughly investigated, with disciplinary measures and, where appropriate, criminal prosecution for anyone found culpable.
At the same time, the Bishops cautioned against treating unverified allegations as established facts, stressing the need to protect the reputations of public officials who carry out their duties honestly.
The Conference is also seeking greater transparency over what is commonly described as “protocol” admissions, particularly allegations that spaces in highly competitive schools are reserved through discretionary arrangements.
It wants authorities to disclose the legal basis for such admissions, the number of places involved, the criteria applied and the officials responsible for making the decisions.
The Bishops warned that the placement system will struggle to command public confidence if parents believe financial means, personal connections or influence can determine who gains admission.
“No placement system can inspire confidence if parents believe that money, connections, or influence can secure places unavailable to more deserving but less privileged children.”
According to the Conference, the recurring challenges surrounding the CSSPS make an independent assessment of the system necessary.
Of the 604,567 candidates who qualified for placement this year, 527,932 had been placed when the results were released.
The Bishops also raised concerns about students being assigned to schools that do not appropriately match their sex, disability, personal circumstances or geographical location.
They said students placed in day schools should not have to travel distances that make daily attendance excessively expensive, difficult or unsafe.
For students with disabilities, the Conference said placements should be made in schools with the facilities and support required to meet their needs.
It further called for genuine placement errors to be corrected promptly through accessible and effective channels.
The Bishops want independent technical experts to review the placement system, with the key findings made available to the public.
They are also proposing a more robust appeals mechanism with clearly defined procedures and deadlines, particularly for cases involving sex, disability, medical conditions, serious distance challenges and administrative errors.
The Conference is calling for greater openness about the factors used to determine placements, including examination scores, programme choices, cut-off points or rankings and available vacancies.
It also wants government to consider appointing an independent official to handle complaints that remain unresolved through the existing channels.
The Bishops maintained that while technology can help improve fairness in the placement process, it cannot substitute for human responsibility in ensuring that placement decisions are both educationally appropriate and morally sound.
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