The Western Regional Director of Education, Felicia Agyeiba Okai has indicated that students who are participating in the on-going 2021 Basic Certificate Examination are expected to choose their Second Cycle Schools after the Completion of the Exams.
This decision is to enable the students to choose schools based on their capabilities and performances. The decision comes on the back of issues surrounding placements of schools when examination results are released.
Over the years, selection of schools is done before the start of the examinations but due to some experiences from the past with regards to placement of schools, Ghana Education Service has resorted to the policy of completion of the exams before proceeding to school selection.
There have been situations where students refuse to accept placements in schools by the computerized system.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Spice News Madam Felicia Okai remarked that this is an opportunity for parents and students to know their limits and opportunities available to them before choosing a particular school.
“The decision is to make parents and guardians take center stage of the selection of schools to avoid complaints surrounding issues of school placement. It will also help the student to make informed decisions about the choice of schools taking into consideration distance amongst other things”
Madam Felicia Okai noted that, some students make the mistake of picking the wrong codes for schools during the selection which results in not getting their right choice of schools.
Again, she advised students to be mindful to select the right codes which corresponding with the schools as well as the programs of study.
Touching on the same subject, the Sekondi – Takoradi Zonal Chairman of Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS), Mr. Charles Mintaba added that it is the responsibility of parents and guardians to assist their wards in the selection and not be left in the hands of other people.
Students are advised to be guided with the requirements on the selection of the schools accordingly. He revealed that the raw scores are sometimes used to determine whether a student could get admission to a particular school.
As part of the selection of schools, students get to choose a day or a boarding school and a technical or vocational school. Students are advised to select schools within their reach also taking into consideration the courses offered by such schools.
Story by Benedicta Ackney
