The Executive Secretary of Africa Education Watch, Kofi Asare, has welcomed plans by government to allow Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates complete their selection of schools after the results are released.
According to him, the move would significantly improve decision-making among candidates and reduce the persistent pressure on top-tier schools.
Speaking on the issue in an interview on TV3’s NewsCentral, Thursday, April 2, Mr. Asare noted that enabling candidates to make their school choices based on their actual raw scores would lead to more realistic and informed choice of school.
“We believe that once candidates have the opportunity to complete their school selection process with knowledge of their raw scores, they will make more realistic choices rather than selecting schools they know they do not meet the cut-off points,” he said.
He explained that following an analysis of the Computerised School Selection Placement System (CSSPS) in 2023, Africa Education Watch had earlier identified lack of adequate information as a major flaw for candidates to make an informed choice about the school to select.
Mr. Asare pointed out that many candidates previously selected schools without knowing their performance, leading to a disproportionate demand for Category A schools and complicating the placement process.
He described the proposed reform as “one step forward” in addressing long-standing challenges within the CSSPS, expressing optimism that it would enhance fairness and transparency in school placements.
“It will enable candidates make much more realistic choices than be selecting schools that they know they do not meet the cut-off point, so that is one step forward,” he added.
