The Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum says over 500,000 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) graduates have been placed in various Senior High as well as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) schools nationwide under the School Selection and Placement System.

He explained that enrolment into SHS and TVET institutions has increased significantly following the introduction of the free SHS policy.

Dr Adutwum announced this at the 2022 Presidential BECE awards in Accra, which saw 72 students who excelled in the 2021/2022 BECE being presented with certificates of honour.

Since its inception in 1993, the annual awards are presented to young brilliant students between 14 and 19 years of age from all regions.

Selection of the awardees is based on their exceptional academic performance in the BECE.

Dr Yaw Adutwum said the free SHS policy has opened many opportunities for children to attain secondary education irrespective of the financial backgrounds of their parents as well as location, religious, ethnic, political and other affiliations,

"The Free SHS programme has sent many students to various high schools in the country. When it started in 2017, there were 830,000 students enrolled in high schools across the country."

"This year alone, we have a record over 500,000 students placed in senior high schools across the country, and we are waiting for all of them to enrol. That tells you the progress we have made these past few years."

Dr Adutwum who is also the Member of Parliament for the Bosomtwe Constituency was upbeat that all the placed students will enrol in their chosen schools.

President Akufo-Addo on his part said the government will continue to implement policies and programmes geared at making education better in Ghana.

He reminded students to uphold high moral values in their educational endeavors.

He said education remains a topmost priority for his government.

"Know that you can go as far back as you want by remaining diligent, hardworking and holding on to a strong moral base," the President said.

Background information 

The West African Examination Council (WAEC) released the BECE results on January 25, 2023.

According to WAEC, out of the 547,329 registered candidates, 538,399 candidates qualified to be placed.

A total of 372,780, representing 69.24 per cent (69.24%) of the qualified students, were automatically placed in one of their choices.