Education-News Consult

It has been 25 days since 2024 BECE students completed their WAEC-administered examination. Since then, the GES has remained silent on the procedures for school selection, the date for school selection, and the school list from which candidates will select schools.

While BECE graduates will start their Senior High School education on September 27, 2024, per the GES, it is yet to do all the needful (school selection processes) before schools reopen.

The Education News Consult is asking three questions on behalf of its huge following and readers.

• Is the GES “Cooking” a New School Selection and Placement for the Election Year?
• Are there plans to improve the 2024 school selection and placement system to ensure a better system and process?
• Are we delaying the school selection process for 2024 BECE graduates for political reasons or for effective and efficient system development reasons?
• Will the students choose schools after their BECE results have been released by WAEC or before, as has been the case?

Whatever the case, one of the qualities of good information is its timeliness and how proactive the communicator is in delivering such information to critical stakeholders.

The usual practice is that less than 10 days after the BECE is completed, the GES releases all forms, procedures, and school lists for the commencement of school selections. This year is almost a month after BECE, and candidates, parents, and schools do not know what their fate is.

For schools, this school selection process needs to be completed before schools reopen so as to ensure their normal operations are not intertwined with the regular school selection services they offer parents and students during the vacation period.

While the Ghana Education Service and other stakeholders wait to officially release the school selection procedures, the school list for the various categories, and the form to be used to select schools,

Whatever the case, the GES needs to keep stakeholders updated, including education news portals, to ensure that their communication reaches many more people.

Since this year is an election year, the GES and the MoE are working to ensure that they take advantage of the 2024 election year. Should many candidates miss the automatic school placement into the preferred schools they choose, the government will be in the back books for voters. The question is, Is the GES “Cooking” a New School Selection and Placement for the Election Year?

Self-placement options offered to students have always created problems for parents and students. If the delays in coming out with the 2024 school selection system are to ensure we reduce or eradicate the challenges that come with the system, the better for us all.

MUST READ: School Selection for 2024 BECE Graduates Starts August 23

Students, parents, and schools used to get stressed when it came to the release of results and school placement but this year, the delay in school selection for BECE graduates has delayed caused more stress already. It is hoped that the delays will take off the annual challenges that follow the release of results and placement or else there will be trouble.

While the Education-News Consult is neither the mouthpiece nor an extension of the GES, it keeps receiving calls and questions that should be directed at the Ghana Education Service on the school selection. We call on GES to start giving stakeholders hints that will keep students and parents updated weekly.