Private School Associations calls on CHRAJ to probe 30% SHS placement priority for public JHSs

Okyere Darko 4 weeks ago

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The Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) and the Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) have jointly called on the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate the 30% school placement priority currently granted to students from public basic schools.

The Private School Association call comes after they submitted a petition to the Human Rights and Administrative Justice to invite the central government over the unfair computer placement system which disadvantages private school students who sit for the Basic Education Certificate Examination.

During a joint press conference held on Thursday, November 14, at the Ghana International Press Centre in Accra, GNACOPS National Executive Director, Obenfo Nana Kwasi Gyetuah, voiced strong concerns over the policy.

He argued that the 30% placement priority given to Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates from public schools undermines the constitutional rights of private school students, as outlined in Article 17 of the 1992 Constitution.

According to Obenfo Nana Kwasi Gyetuah, the policy discriminates against private school students, depriving them of fair access to Category A schools despite their academic qualifications.

Obenfo Nana Kwasi Gyetuah emphasized that this practice contradicts the constitutional principles of equality and fairness.

He pointed out that Article 25(5) promotes equal educational opportunities, and the current policy creates an unjust barrier that prevents private school students from accessing top-tier schools based on merit.

“In accordance with Article 25(2) of the 1992 Constitution, which clearly affirms that ‘Every person shall have the right, at their own expense, to establish and maintain private schools at all levels and of such categories, subject to conditions as may be provided by law,’ it is evident that the Constitution protects the right to establish and maintain private educational institutions,” he stated.

Obenfo Nana Kwasi Gyetuah called on CHRAJ to conduct a thorough investigation to determine if the 30% placement priority system violates the 1992 Constitution.

He urged the commission to recommend an immediate shift to a purely merit-based admission policy, ensuring that all students, regardless of whether they attend public or private schools, are given equal opportunities.

He also emphasized the urgency of the matter, stating, “We urge CHRAJ to act swiftly in addressing this grave injustice, as each day this policy remains in place, it infringes upon the constitutional rights of Ghana’s children.

The pathway to the nation’s top educational institutions should be determined by merit, not by arbitrary distinctions based on school type.

The government’s obligation, as outlined in Article 25(2), is to ensure that private school students receive the same legal treatment and fairness as their public school counterparts.”

The petition from GNACOPS and GNAPS is a call for an equitable educational system where admission to Ghana’s best schools is based solely on academic merit, without discrimination based on the type of school attended.