SSS results, school placements to go hand in hand

Accra, Aug. 24, GNA - Under the Computerised School Selection Placement System (CSSPS) placement of students to the various senior secondary schools (SSS) would accompany their results, which would be available at their various Junior Secondary Schools (JSS).

In addition, the printed list of candidates would also be distributed to all SSS, Regional and District Offices of Ghana Education Service (GES) to make the selection process easier and effective. Mrs Margaret Andan, Director, Secondary Education Division, Ghana Education Service (GES), gave the details in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra.

She said candidates, who received their results and schools where they would pursue their SSS courses would have to go to the schools for their prospectus and pay their fees. Special re-entry forms would be printed for qualified pupils, who could not pursue secondary or technical education soon after graduation for various reasons, she said.

GES says the CSSPS is intended to address the perennial stress and frustrations, which have become characteristic of the current manual system.

Asked what role the heads of SSS would play in the CSSPS, she said they would be required by mandate of their office to furnish CSSPS unit with information on any approved change in programmes or new programmes before March 31 every year.

They would also be required to declare vacancies, which would constitute the statistical data to be used in the distribution of textbooks, payment of bursary and other financial commitments including development projects of a school.

GES, she said, would soon come out with all the guidelines for the selection and admission into senior secondary, technical and vocational schools to enable them to start academic work on schedule. Meanwhile the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced that it has released the results of the 2005 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

A statement issued by WAEC in Accra and signed by Mrs Agnes Teye-Cudjoe, Senior Public Affairs Officer; said the results for schools and statements of results for individual candidates were being dispatched to the schools through the District Directors of Education. It said scores obtained by the candidates had been forwarded to the Ghana Education Service (GES) for use in the CSSPS.

"Candidates can access their results online", the statement said. On the performance of the candidates, the statement said out of a total of 285,037 candidates, who sat for the examination, 175,555 candidates, representing 62 per cent, had aggregate six to 30. Aggregate 30 is the cut-off point for selection of candidates into various programmes in SSS and Technical Institutions.

The statement said 5,831 candidates, representing two per cent, had aggregate six, 19,313 candidates, representing seven per cent, had aggregate six to 10.

It said 58,222 candidates, representing 20 per cent, had aggregate 11 to 20 and 98,020 candidates, representing 35 per cent, had aggregate 21 to 30.

The statement said the 2005 BECE recorded an increase in irregularity cases mainly due to poor supervision at some of the centres.

It said 782 candidates had their subject results cancelled while 140 candidates had their entire results cancelled. The affected candidates were involved in various examination irregularities such as bringing foreign materials into the examination hall and collusion.