SHS Placement: Parents relieved

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8-10-09

A number of parents and their children who thronged the various senior high schools (SHSs) and technical institutes in the country yesterday expressed feelings of relief after checking the computer placement of candidates posted to the schools.
The placement results were displayed on the notice boards of the various schools and parents and heir children thronged the schools enquire about the admission requirements. The Ghana Education Service (GES) had earlier indicated that the placement results would get to the schools and be displayed yesterday, October 7, 2009.
The results displayed also had the total raw scores of the candidates placed in the schools for the perusal of both candidates and their parents.
The candidates were placed in the various schools according to the programmes they chose during the selection for placements.
Some of the schools visited by the Daily Graphic were St Mary’s SHS, Achimota School, Holy Trinity Cathedral SHS, Presbyterian SHS, Osu, Labone SHS, St Thomas Aquinas SHS and Accra Girls’ SHS.
Two parents — Vanessa Takyi-Mensah and Edith Mensah — who went to Presec, Osu, to check on their children’s placements were happy that “our children have been placed in their second-choice school”.
For Madam Takyi-Mensah, her problem was the short time within which to make full payment of her child’s fees, adding that “it is not possible to make full payment on or before October 14 when the placements results had been released only today, October 7”.
Madam Abbey said apart from checking the placements, she had also gone to the school to enquire about the payment of registration fees, among other things.
Yusif Anas, who went to check the placement of his niece at the Labone SHS, commended the education authorities for the computer selection, adding that it was fair.
He said although his niece had chosen Achimota School as her first choice, he understood why she was placed in her second choice of Labone SHS, adding that “she would have to accept it, since it is clear”.
An excited Maame Akua who had seen her name on the board at Labone SHS, said, “At least I have got my second choice with my 09.”
“I believe my last daughter who had 08 had strong raw scores and that is why she got her first choice of Accra Girls’ to do Business,” an elated Madam Ahorse told the Daily Graphic.
She said she did not understand why some people were saying that their children had been put in schools they had not chosen and suggested that the raw scores be printed on the BECE results slips so that people could have better a understanding of and appreciate the selection process.
Two other parents, Adjoa Ampomah and Elizabeth Tetteh, supported the idea, saying that it would help to calm the tension and anxiety associated with the placement system.
“We don’t have to wait till the raw scores get to the schools before we see them. They should be on the results slips so that we can do better comparisons,” Madam Ampomah said.
A closer look at the placement results showed that majority of the candidates who qualified for placement came from private basic schools.
For instance, out of the 90 students who were placed in the General Science programme at St Thomas Aquinas, 68 came from private schools, with the remainder coming from public schools.
It was also realised during the visit that the number of students requested for by the schools had been increased by the Ghana Education Service (GES) to cater for the number of candidates who qualified for placement into SHSs and technical institutes.
For instance, while Holy Trinity Cathedral SHS requested for 220 students, it was given 360, St Thomas Aquinas requested for 395 students and was given 506, while Labone SHS wanted 480 students but was given 530.
Although the heads of the schools said they would manage with the situation, they added that they would need more facilities, such as classrooms, tables and chairs for the excess number.
Out of the 395,647 candidates who wrote the 2009 BECE, 200,642 qualified for placement into SHSs and technical institutes. Heads of schools declared 198,000 vacancies.
To qualify for placement, a candidate has to get the minimum score of grade five in all the core subjects, namely, English, Mathematics, General Science and Social Studies, and any two best subjects. This should give a candidate a minimum of aggregate 30 to get placement.
However, if a candidate scores grade six in any or both best subjects, he or she should have a grade better than five in any of the core subjects to qualify for placement.