As senior high schools across Ghana officially reopen for first-year students, thousands of parents and their wards have begun trooping to campuses to secure placements and finalise admission processes.

The nationwide exercise, which marks the beginning of the academic journey for nearly 600,000 fresh students, has so far been largely smooth.

However, long queues and extended waiting times have been a common scene at many school premises, with parents expressing both relief and frustration in equal measure.

Speaking to JoyNews, one parent said, “We got here around 8 am, and there were already so many people. Some parents said they had been here since yesterday. For us, it went smoothly—but still, more can be done. Everything was done online, yet when you arrive, you still have to queue and wait for hours. I believe the internet challenges may be part of it, but it can be improved.”

Another parent, visibly tired after several hours of waiting, shared, “We came here at 6:30 am and it’s now 11:32. It’s not been easy. I wish the schools would give us separate reporting dates to ease the pressure.”

Despite the lengthy process, many students were visibly thrilled to begin school. One student said, “I’m very excited to be here. I’ve been inspired by others who came here, and I want to make my parents proud.” Another added, “This school is my dream, and I’m ready to study hard to make my father proud.”

Education authorities say the rush is expected to ease as the admission window remains open and schools work to manage the numbers with staggered reporting schedules.