Executive Director of the Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS), Obengfo Nana Kwasi Gyetuah, has urged authorities to scrap the National Placement Resolution Centre, arguing that it undermines the work of regional and district offices designated to handle issues with the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has set up Placement Resolution Centres in all District and Regional Education Offices to assist students, parents, and guardians facing challenges with Senior High School (SHS) placements.
Mr. Gyetuah, however, noted that the national centre continues to overshadow these local offices, creating unnecessary congestion whenever placements are released. His remarks come in the wake of chaotic scenes at the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) Hall in Accra on Tuesday, September 23, where hundreds of parents and students gathered to resolve placement difficulties.
Speaking on Channel One TV, on Saturday, September 27, he argued that regional and district officers have the expertise to resolve most placement concerns but remain under-resourced.
“We should collapse the national centre because the GES offices already exist. The problem is not beyond the capacity of regional and district offices; the challenge is that resources have not been fairly distributed to empower them to function effectively,” he said.
He further explained that local officers often have a deeper understanding of the situation than their national counterparts.
“When you go to the national centres — I’ve been there — those working there don’t have superior knowledge compared to district officers. In terms of experience and familiarity with the terrain, district education officers know the issues better because they live and work among the communities,” Mr. Gyetuah emphasized.
Source: Adomonline