‘Abolish computerised schools selection system’

The Mayor of Cape Coast, Mr Anthony Egyire Aikins, has called for the computer selection system for entry into senior high schools to be abolished.

That, he said, was because the system was being abused by those in charge of the selection process. However, sources at the Ghana Education Service said the selection process was based on merit and that the system was transparent and difficult to abuse.

Mr Aikins said for instance, students in Cape Coast with good
grades did not get their first choice schools and that it was those without good grades that were gaining admission into the first-class schools in the metropolis.

Mr Aikins said this when he visited senior high schools in the Cape. Coast Metropolis to learn about their preparedness to receive first-year students on Friday, October 15.

Mr Aikins said parents of children with good grades were trooping to his office everyday for admission.

He said students with 10 ones were refused their first choice
schools and some were not even placed in any school at all, adding that this was unacceptable.

The schools visited included Holy Child School, Oguaa Secondary Technical, Ghana National College, Efutu Secondary Technical, University Practice Secondary, St Augustine’s College, Adisadel College and Mfantsipim School.

Authorities at Adisadel College and Mfantsipim School said they were not ready for the first years due to problems of infrastructure. However, the two heads gave the assurance that measures were being put in place to receive the first years by the first week of November.

Most of the heads said they would house the first years in temporary structures pending the completion of the various projects the GET fund was undertaking.

The Headmaster of Mfantsipim School, Mr Koame Meiza Edjah, also stated that the computer selection was unfair since some students placed in his school did not have the required grades for the school.

He stated that only five students from the Cape Coast metropolis were placed in Mfantsipim.

Source: Daily Graphic