Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates will now select their preferred senior high schools only after their exam results have been officially released, the government has announced.
The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, disclosed the policy change on Wednesday, noting that the move is intended to reform the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) and allow students to make informed educational choices.
Previously, candidates were required to choose their schools before sitting for the BECE, a practice the Minister said often resulted in mismatched placements and inefficiencies since students lacked a clear understanding of their academic performance at the time of selection.
Speaking to the media, Mr. Iddrisu explained that a mandatory one-week window will be established following the declaration of results. During this period, candidates will finalize their school choices based on their actual academic aggregates.
“In the past, students selected schools without knowing their aggregate, and that affected the placement system,” the Minister stated. “This time, we will provide a mandatory period of one week after results are declared for students to confirm their choices based on their performance.”
The Minister expressed confidence that this revised timeline will improve the fairness and efficiency of the admission process while reducing the perennial challenges associated with the school placement system.