We should all support the Free SHS policy.

 We should all support the Free SHS policy. 

On August 30, 2017, the Computerised Schools Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) announced the release of the list of candidates who were successfully placed in senior high schools (SHSs) and technical and vocational institutes of their choice following the 2017 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). To the surprise of no one, the declaration was welcomed with nervousness as guardians and up-and-comers attacked the premises of the Service of Training and the CSSPS focus to check what is happening and guaranteeing confirmation.

While some parents were there to inquire about the possibility of moving their children to other CSSPS-preferenced schools, others were there to complain that they were being turned away from the schools because the headmasters and headmistresses were away at their annual conference in Ho. Another group of parents came to find out how to access the Ghana Education Service (GES) website, which allowed parents to either self-place their children or print out their admission letters. The latter occurred because the GES-provided website, www.myjhsresult.net, did not respond or opened extremely slowly. That ignited some tension as guardians had restricted the opportunity to get their youngsters enlisted or do the self-position practice before the resuming date of Monday, September 11, 2017.

The GES launched yet another website as part of its response to the situation: www.cssps.gov.gh, to help candidates and parents locate schools. Also, on Thursday, the ministry told the heads of second-cycle schools to tell their assistants to start the admissions registration process for parents who came in with their kids.

Fortunately, yesterday, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Minister of Education, issued a directive allowing first-year students who had successfully completed their registration process to report to school on Monday and allowing those students who had not yet completed their self-placement and printing of admission letters to continue with the process until the end of September. The Daily Graphic believes that parents and candidates, particularly those who are still having trouble navigating the application process, will find this information to be upbeat.

In light of this, we urge parents to remain patient as the government explores various options to alleviate the difficulties they and their children face. We, notwithstanding, beg the CSSPS Secretariat and all officials to share the obligation to guarantee that the activity is executed overall quite well to diminish the psychological torment guardians and their kids are going through.

The Day to day Realistic urges guardians to acknowledge the schools their youngsters have been put in since they are important for the four decisions the competitors chose. In order to ensure the successful implementation of the Free SHS policy, let us all contribute to making the CSSPS placement believable and palatable to everyone.