The Minister for Education, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, has assured Ghanaians that the Ministry is taking decisive steps to resolve the ongoing challenges associated with the school placement system across the country.

Speaking on the matter, the Minister reaffirmed that the placement process remains open, transparent, and accountable, but acknowledged that the demand for secondary school admissions far exceeds available vacancies, creating pressure on the system each year.

Mr Iddrisu stressed the urgent need for infrastructure expansion to accommodate the growing student population.

He proposed a strategic review of school classifications, including the upgrading of some Category B schools to Category A status and supporting regions without Category A schools with new investments and facilities.

He pointed out that regions such as the North East and Savannah currently have no Category A schools, making it difficult for students from those areas to compete fairly with their counterparts from regions with stronger educational infrastructure.

“We need a more equitable placement system that gives every student, regardless of location, a fair chance at quality education,” the Minister stated.

Mr. Iddrisu also appealed for increased budgetary allocation to implement these reforms, including the expansion of existing Category A schools and the construction of new facilities in underserved areas.

He further revealed that the Ministry is facing challenges in filling 76,000 available vacancies with only 393 qualified applicants, underscoring the need for a comprehensive approach to strengthen the education sector through infrastructure, teacher deployment, and curriculum support.

The Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that every qualified student gains access to quality education, emphasising that reforms to the placement system will focus on fairness, inclusivity, and efficiency.