5 Dangerous BECE School Selection Mistakes by Schools, Students & Parents

In our earlier publication, “Why BECE Graduates Will Be Disappointed with School Placement: How to Avoid It,” we identified three reasons why candidates face disappointment. In this article, however, we will touch on 5 Dangerous School Selection Mistakes Schools, Students, and Parents Make.

Once you are done reading this article, be alert as a parent, be meticulous as a school officer in charge of data entry, and be responsible as a BECE graduate so that your school placement is not put in jeopardy.

5 Dangerous School Selection Mistakes Schools, Students, and Parents Make

For some reason, when BECE graduates are placed in the schools they chose, they or their parents often complain that their final choices have been changed or rearranged. This happens for several reasons, and the moment a student is not placed, the blame game begins. To avoid this and other frustrations, take note of the following:

1. School data officers making wrong entries into the school selection software

The first dangerous mistake is school data officers making incorrect entries into the selection software. When inputting data, officers should not be permitted to work entirely alone simply because they are IT professionals or possess good IT skills. Instead, schools must appoint a third and fourth person to cross-check the entries, either directly from the software or from the initial printouts. Having been in charge of BECE registration for nearly 15 years, experience has shown me that having an extra pair of eyes to check through entries ensures errors are avoided and that the exact schools and programs submitted by candidates are entered accurately.

2. Candidates changing schools without parents’ consent

The second mistake relates to candidates altering their choices behind their parents’ backs. After candidates have, with the help of their parents, made the necessary school choices and arrangements, some students alter these selections and may even forge their parents’ signatures next to the edited choices. To ensure this does not happen on the blind side of parents, guardians should keep a physical copy of the selected schools and programs or take screenshots of the final list before the candidate takes it to school. Better still, parents should find time to personally submit the selection forms to their ward’s Junior High School. Sometimes, students are tempted to change schools due to peer pressure or a lack of interest in a particular school or program being imposed on them by their parents.

READ ALSO: Mahama announces STAR-J project to end double-track system in SHS by 2027

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3. Parents rejecting useful suggestions from teachers and schools

The third dangerous mistake is when parents refuse to take constructive advice from teachers and school administrators. Many parents do not fully know the true academic strength of their wards, yet they refuse to accept input from the school. Such parents choose schools based on an overrated perception of their child’s abilities, believing their wards will automatically merit top-tier choices. If this is not checked, poor choices will be made regarding schools, programs, and even accommodation options, which drastically lowers the candidate’s chances of being placed. Schools and parents must keep communication lines open and share relevant data regarding these choices.

4. Total parental negligence during the selection process

It is incredibly risky when parents and guardians are not fully involved or interested in the school selection process. They leave everything entirely to the candidate or a teacher. Consequently, if the wrong options are selected or the candidate fails to secure a placement, they turn around to blame the school, the teacher, and the government for no justifiable reason. Parents must remember that they cannot delegate their responsibility to a software or a third party.

5. Parents forcing specific schools and programs on candidates

As a parent, note that you are not the one going to study the program you are desperately forcing your child to choose. Learn to understand the career ambitions of the student, listen to their choices and the reasoning behind them, and help them make realistic decisions that match their interests. Failure to do this can crush the candidate’s morale and compel them to secretly change their programs and schools without your knowledge.

READ ALSO: Why 2022 BECE Graduates Will Be Disappointed with School Placement: How to Avoid It

Now that we know the 5 dangerous School Selection mistakes schools, students, and parents make, let’s take proactive steps to avoid them during this placement cycle.

Source: Wisdom HAMMOND