An official of the Ghana Education Service (GES) in Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan, Sally Nelly Coleman, expressed deep concern over the absence of over 137,ooo 2023 BECE graduates who were placed in the 2023 CSSPS.
These students were placed in Senior High Schools and Technical and Vocational Education and Training Schools across the country. The situation, according to Coleman, is indeed worrying and demands urgent attention.
Out of the 590,000 students placed across the country, a staggering 453,000 have filed for admission, leaving a significant void of 137,000 students who haven’t yet made their arrived at their respective schools.
A substantial number of students remain at home despite the reopening date being set for January 3, 2024, which seems to [resent unexpected obstacles for the CSSPS, a system designed to streamline the admission procedure.
Daniel Vroom-Laryea, the Western Regional Chairman of the National Council of Parent Teacher Associations, shed light on the complexities surrounding the situation.
As per his assertion, the unfavorable timing of reopening and financial constraints have contributed to the students’ reluctance to attend school.
Cocoa farmers in rural areas, for instance, are grappling with low yields, making it difficult for them to afford the expenses associated with sending their children to school.
Contrary to expectations, the ‘Free Senior High School Policy’, which aims to make learning accessible to all, is proving to be more costly than anticipated.
The government’s restrictions on parental involvement only aggravate the issue, according to Vroom-Laryea.
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He alleges that the Parents Association is being impeded from providing assistance to schools, despite the dire need for such assistance. This restriction, he argues, hampers the effectiveness of the Free Senior High School Policy.