The Ghana Education Service (GES) has issued a strong warning to parents, guardians, and students regarding misleading reports circulating on social media about alleged cut-off points for school placements under the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).
An image widely shared online falsely suggested that students with certain BECE aggregates would only qualify for specific school choices (e.g., first choice, second choice, or self-placement). This misleading table has been stamped as FAKE by the GES.
What Actually Determines BECE Placement
According to the Public Relations Officer of the GES, Daniel Fenyi, placement into Senior High Schools is not determined by fixed cut-off points. Instead, the system considers several important factors to ensure fairness and meritocracy:
- Raw scores of candidates in the BECE.
- Competitiveness of the school and the level of demand.
- Competitiveness of the programme selected (e.g., Science, Business, Technical).
- Aggregate of the candidate.
- Residential preferences such as day or boarding.
- Catchment area considerations.
This means two students with the same aggregate may not necessarily get placed in the same school, depending on these additional factors.
Why the Fake Cut-Off Point Table is Misleading
The so-called “cut-off” chart is a mischievous attempt to mislead the public. It wrongly suggests that only students with aggregates between 6–10 can get their first choice, while those with higher aggregates are pushed to lower choices or self-placement. GES has made it clear that such claims are false and without basis.
GES Assures Transparency in School Placement
GES has assured stakeholders that the placement process remains transparent, fair, and merit-based. The service urges the public to rely only on official communications from GES and to disregard misleading publications on social media and other platforms.
Parents and students are advised to stay informed through official channels and avoid falling prey to misinformation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on BECE Placement and Cut-Off Points
1. Does GES use cut-off points for school placement?
No. The Ghana Education Service (GES) does not use fixed cut-off points for placement. Placement is based on raw scores, competitiveness of the school and programme, aggregate, residential preference, and catchment area considerations.
2. Why is the cut-off point table circulating online marked as fake?
Because it falsely suggests that students with specific aggregates can only qualify for certain school choices. GES has officially debunked it as misleading and inaccurate.
3. What factors influence BECE placement into Senior High Schools (SHS)?
Placement depends on:
- The raw score of the student.
- Demand or competitiveness of the chosen school.
- The programme applied for (Science, Arts, Business, Technical, etc.).
- The student’s aggregate.
- Whether the student selects day or boarding.
- Catchment area considerations.
4. Can two students with the same aggregate be placed in different schools?
Yes. Placement is not solely about aggregate. If one school is oversubscribed, placement will also consider raw scores, programme demand, and other factors.
5. How can parents and students verify genuine GES information?
GES advises parents and students to follow only official GES communication channels such as:
- The official GES website.
- Verified social media handles of GES.
- Official press releases from the GES Public Relations Office.
6. What should students do if they are not placed in any of their five choices?
Students who do not secure any of their selected schools will be allowed to use the self-placement system to choose from schools with available vacancies.
7. Who is the official spokesperson on BECE placement issues?
Mr. Daniel Fenyi, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ghana Education Service, speaks on matters relating to placement and has clarified the misinformation about cut-off points.
Source: GESHub.org
I want to check out my school