The Ministry of Education has announced that there are currently no available spaces in Category A and Category B senior high schools for candidates seeking changes to their 2026 BECE placements.
The clarification comes as large numbers of parents and Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates continue to visit the placement resolution centre at the GNAT Hall in Accra to seek assistance with their school placements.
According to the Ministry, the high demand for some of Ghana’s most sought-after senior high schools has resulted in the available spaces in Category A and B institutions being fully occupied.
Category A and B schools have reached capacity
Speaking on the ongoing placement resolution exercise, the Ministry of Education’s spokesperson, Hashmin Mohammed, explained that parents and candidates seeking to change their placements may not be able to secure spaces in Category A and B schools because those institutions are already full.
The situation has become a major concern for families whose wards were placed in schools they did not originally prefer and are hoping to secure admission into higher-category institutions.
The Ministry’s position means that candidates seeking upgrades to some of the country’s most competitive schools may have limited options during the current placement resolution exercise.
The clarification comes amid a significant increase in the number of parents and candidates reporting to the GNAT Hall in Accra, where placement-related concerns are being addressed.
The concerns brought before officials include requests for changes in schools, programmes of study and residential status.
The large turnout has placed considerable pressure on officials handling the resolution exercise, prompting the Ministry to consider increasing the number of personnel available to assist parents and candidates.
The Ministry has also indicated that it is considering the digitalisation of the placement resolution process in the future.
Such a move could reduce the need for parents and candidates to travel to physical centres and potentially make the resolution of placement issues faster and more convenient.
Why Category A and B schools are highly competitive
Category A and B schools remain among the most sought-after institutions under Ghana’s Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).
Demand for these schools is particularly high because many parents and students associate them with strong academic performance, established reputations, better-resourced facilities and wider extracurricular opportunities.
However, the limited number of spaces means that securing a place is highly competitive.
Ahead of the release of the 2026 placement results, CSSPS Coordinator Sherif Sulemana explained that the competition for some Category A schools was particularly intense.
For instance, about 36,000 applications were reportedly made for approximately 2,100 available places at Achimota School and Aburi Girls’ Senior High School combined.
This level of demand highlights the difficulty candidates face when competing for places in Ghana’s most popular senior high schools.
What this means for BECE candidates
Candidates who were not placed in their preferred Category A or B schools may have to consider the alternatives available through the CSSPS rather than expecting an upgrade to a school that has already reached capacity.
Parents and candidates are therefore being encouraged to approach the placement resolution process with realistic expectations and consider available schools, programmes and residential arrangements.
The Ministry’s announcement also underscores the importance of making carefully considered school choices during the BECE school selection process.
2026 BECE placement remains highly competitive
The latest development illustrates the intense competition surrounding Ghana’s 2026 SHS placement exercise.
While the CSSPS is designed to match qualified BECE candidates with available spaces based on established placement rules, the concentration of applications around highly sought-after schools continues to create challenges for families.
With Category A and B schools now reported to have no available spaces for placement changes, candidates and parents seeking solutions may have to explore other available options as the Ministry continues efforts to resolve outstanding placement concerns.
