Accra: An atmosphere of anxiety and heartbreak filled the Ghana National Association of Teachers Hall as parents and their wards converged to seek changes to their children's school placements. In exclusive interviews with GhanaWeb on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, several parents lamented being residents of distant communities yet having their wards placed in schools within the Greater Accra Region - and designated as day students. Many said they had come to the hall in hopes of securing transfers that would ease the burden of distance and daily commuting.
According to Ghana Web, among those affected was a single mother who revealed that she sells sachet water to support her son, who is the first in her family to attend senior high school. The placement outcome has left her distressed and determined to request a change. "We live inside Kpone-Katamanso, yet my son has been placed in a school in Tema. He would have to board three vehicles every day just to commute, so I want the placement changed. I considered getting him a hostel, but the amount quoted for even the first semester was outrageous," she explained. The mother highlighted the financial strain, noting that transport alone costs GHS80 a day, making it an unsustainable option given her current income. She expressed a preference for a day school closer to Kwahu or Brong Ahafo if a transfer could be arranged.
Other parents shared similar concerns, including a father from Prampram whose 14-year-old son had been placed in a school at Kaneshie and designated as a day student. "I'm here for the residence, actually. Because we are from Prampram and the school is in Kaneshie. It's a day school, so it cannot be that he transports from Prampram to the school," he stated.
The situation has sparked discussions on the need for a more equitable distribution of category A senior high schools across districts to reduce the pressure of placements and alleviate the financial and logistical burdens faced by families.