The Ministry of Education has reaffirmed that merit takes precedence over protocol in the placement of qualified students under the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).
The Ministry made the clarification in a statement dated September 15, 2026, as it responded to calls by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference for greater transparency and accountability in the placement system.
“The Ministry wishes to emphasise that the CSSPS is fundamentally a merit-based system, with merit taking precedence over protocol in the placement of qualified candidates,” the statement said.
According to the Ministry, the objective is to ensure that placement decisions follow established criteria and that every qualified student is treated fairly under the approved framework.
Despite defending the merit-based nature of the system, the Ministry acknowledged the need for improvements.
It announced that a Technical Working Committee would be established after the current placement exercise to undertake a comprehensive review of the placement process.
The committee will examine different components of the CSSPS, identify areas requiring improvement and recommend measures to strengthen transparency, accountability, fairness and efficiency.
The Ministry also reminded parents and candidates that CSSPS placement is free and that no one should pay money to secure or change a school placement.
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