The Ministry of Education will not allow "protocol admissions" for placement into second cycle schools in this year's computerised school selection and placement system (CSSPS) for qualified Basic Education (BECE) Certificate Examination candidates, says the sector Minister, Alex Tettey-Enyo. "I do not know how the 'protocol admissions', (a reservation of special number of places to government officials and other dignitaries to enable their wards to enter SHS) evolved, but I know that it has existed for years," he said at a press briefing in Accra on Thursday. Dubbed "Matters Arising," the briefing was to outline steps the government was taking to implement the smooth selection of candidates entering the Senior High Schools (SHS), the Capitation and Feeding Grants, and the provision of free school uniform to pupils. "This academic year”, he said, "I will monitor to see how the protocol system will work after the very stringent measures the ministry has put in place." The Minister said 200,642 out of 395,647 candidates who sat for the 2009 BECE, qualified for admission into second-cycle schools and would be placed under CSSPS according to the order of merit in vacancies in schools of their choice. He said placement reports would be available in the schools by September 28, but candidates could access them by September 15. He advised parents to accept the placement of their wards and urged the media also to support the ministry and the GES to educate the public. Mr Tettey-Enyo said following cabinet's approval of the reversal of the duration of the SHS from four to three years, a technical committee set up by his ministry had recommended additional classrooms, laboratories, text books and the revision of the syllabuses and a national implementation committee was already in place to deal with the issues from the 2010/2011 academic year. He said the government would provide approximately 1.6 million school uniforms to pupils in 57 deprived districts at an estimated cost of GH¢11.7 million. "As at now, only Printex, a Ghanaian textile manufacturing company is ready to produce specific fabric for the production of the school uniforms. "Modalities have been put in place to engage tailors and seamstresses in the districts as well as industrial garment manufacturing companies to provide the school uniforms by the end of the school term of 2009/201 0 academic year," he said. He said the bid for exercise book contracts had been completed and the ministry was in the process of awarding the contracts to ensure that the books were available before the first term of 20091 2010. Mr Tettey-Enyo said 3,000 qualified teachers had been granted study leave to pursue various courses this academic year and on their full salaries but added that 505 teachers who in 2000, went on study leave without permission, would have to re-apply for re-engagement. The Minister said in the past, those who re-applied and were engaged, refused posting to the rural areas and turned round to accuse the government of not engaging them. "These teachers are advised to accept posting to places where there are vacancies and their services are highly needed," he advised. Source: Francis Xah/Times/Ghana