Executive director of Africa Education Watch (Edu-Watch), Kofi Asare, has proposed a new way to improve Ghana’s second cycle education by the introducing fees to some students in Category ‘A’ schools in Ghana.
He also suggested a way to improve the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS). The system, which places students in senior high schools, has faced criticism for being prone to corruption and not always merit-based. Asare’s suggestion is directed at the president-elect, John Mahama, as part of potential reforms by the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Currently, the CSSPS reserves 30% of admissions in Category A schools for students from public junior high schools (JHS). This policy assumes that most students in public JHS come from poor backgrounds and learn under difficult conditions.
Asare agrees with this policy but suggests an additional 20% of Category ‘A’ slots should be reserved for fee-paying students.
These fee-paying students would pay approximately GH¢8,000 per year but must meet the same academic cut-off as public JHS students. Asare explains that this system could help prevent parents from paying between GH¢15,000 and GH¢30,000 to middlemen for these placements.
He further breaks down the financial benefits of his idea. For example, a Category A school admitting 1,000 students annually would set aside 200 slots for fee-paying students. This would generate GH¢1.6 million, which could cover the entire cost of feeding all 1,000 students for a year. Feeding, he notes, makes up 70% of the Free Senior High School (SHS) budget.
By implementing this system, the next NDC government could save money on feeding costs and avoid delays in releasing funds for school meals. It would also address complaints about cash flow issues while ensuring fairness in the placement process.
