The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) Hall in Accra has become crowded with anxious parents and candidates seeking help with difficulties arising from the 2026 Senior High School (SHS) placement exercise.
The facility, which is serving as the National Placement Resolution Centre, has seen a significant number of parents and students arriving to resolve issues ranging from unsuccessful automatic placement to challenges with the self-placement process.
The situation has created tension at the centre as officials work to attend to the large number of people seeking assistance and clarification about their placement status.
The rush comes as the government works to address concerns surrounding candidates who have not been matched with any of their preferred schools under the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).
The Ministry of Education has clarified that 54,985 candidates who obtained Grade 9 in either English Language or Mathematics in the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) have not been barred from accessing SHS education.
Such candidates are eligible to use the self-placement option to select schools with available vacancies. The official CSSPS portal currently provides an online platform for unplaced candidates to choose from available schools and programmes.
Under the self-placement system, candidates can select only schools with available spaces, with options determined by their grades and other placement requirements.
The 2026 CSSPS guidelines indicate that placement is based on merit using candidates’ results in core and selected elective subjects.
Deputy Education Minister Dr. Clement Apaak has urged parents and candidates to look beyond the most popular schools and consider institutions where vacancies are available.
He advised families to take into account the programmes offered, location, residential arrangements and the individual needs of each student when making their choices.
The Ministry has also indicated that capacity in private schools is being considered to expand placement opportunities and reduce pressure on the public system.
