Cape coast: The Central Regional Computerised School Selection and Placement (CSSP) Resolution Centre has attended to more than 500 students facing placement challenges since its operations commenced on Wednesday. The exercise, currently underway at the Central Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), has seen a significant influx of students and parents seeking assistance for corrections, transfers, and clarifications regarding school placements.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Francis Asmah, the Central Region Coordinator for Free Senior High School (SHS), stated that preparations began on Wednesday and intensified on Thursday. More than 200 students were served on Thursday alone, as efforts were doubled to address over 500 cases. The centre is working diligently to clear a backlog of unresolved cases from this year's computerised school placement exercise.
Mr. Asmah highlighted the main issues brought to the centre, including requests to change schools, programmes (such as from general arts to business or science), mismatches in distance and residential status, and errors in data affecting eligibility. Teams of placement officers, IT personnel, and regional education officials have collaborated to verify records, correct data entry errors, and, where appropriate, facilitate transfers.
He advised parents to be pragmatic and proactive in school selection while ensuring the accuracy of their child's data, such as home address and residential status, on the placement portal before deadlines. Mr. Asmah emphasized the importance of considering proximity, programme fit, and a school's subject strengths when choosing options, rather than relying on a single preferred school.
Mr. Asmah also encouraged students to prioritize programmes that align with their strengths and career plans, rather than selecting schools solely for prestige. He urged them to accept placements in schools with strong subject offerings instead of distant options that may be impractical, to maintain copies of academic records and reference numbers, and to follow up promptly if a placement appears incorrect.
In separate interviews with the GNA, several students expressed dissatisfaction with being placed in schools far from their home communities, while others noted that the programmes assigned to them did not match their grades or career plans. GNA reporters observed long queues outside the RCC compound, with many individuals seated on staircases and along corridors, anxiously awaiting their turn.
The atmosphere ranged from anxiety to frustration, as some students appeared disillusioned after repeated attempts to resolve placement issues through online channels and school offices. A visibly tired student, who had traveled from Assin Praso in the Assin North District with his father, expressed frustration over the long wait times. Another parent, who preferred to remain anonymous, shared concerns about their child being placed in an unsuitable programme.
Several parents voiced complaints about communication breakdowns and the slow pace of resolutions. Mrs. Esi Mensah, who traveled from Abura Dunkwa, described the challenges her daughter faced due to being assigned a placement far from home, making daily commutes impractical. She also noted issues with reference number calls, suggesting that assistance was provided to others before them.