ACCRA, Sept 23 (The African Portal) – Thousands of anxious parents and students have thronged the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) Hall in Accra, turning the national resolution centre into a scene of long queues and frustrated appeals following the release of the 2025 Senior High School (SHS) placement results.
The rush follows the revelation that 107,509 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates — representing 18.2% of all qualified students — were not automatically placed in any of their selected schools.
The Ministry of Education, through the Ghana Education Service (GES), released the results on Wednesday, September 17, 2025. Students are expected to report to school on October 18, 2025.
Frustration at GNAT Hall
The GNAT Hall, designated as the national centre for resolving placement issues, has become the epicentre of tension. Parents and students were seen clutching documents, standing in winding queues, and seeking assistance to navigate the self-placement portal.
“My daughter passed with good grades, yet she was not placed in any of the schools she selected,” said Prince Amankwah, a frustrated parent.
Similarly, parents including Ama Arhin, Nii Okai, and Grace Dotse, whose children were not placed, said they had taken time off work to help secure schools for their wards.
“I have to get a school for my son because I’ve taken just two days off to do this,” said Felicity Afriyie. “I didn’t face any challenges with the placement system when my three older children went through the same process years ago.”
For Charles Amissah, whose daughter scored an aggregate of eight, the situation has been especially difficult.
“I arrived here at 5 a.m. and still haven’t been able to resolve the issue. My daughter is worried she didn’t get her first-choice school,” he explained.
Dorothy Danso expressed concern not only about the frustrations parents face each year, but also about possible exploitation.
“I remember last year, a friend whose son wasn’t placed had to pay about 15,000 Ghana cedis to secure a slot in one of the leading schools in the Central Region. I’m afraid the same thing may happen again,” she warned.
Placement figures
According to official statistics, 603,328 candidates sat for the 2025 BECE. Out of this, 590,309 qualified for placement.
The Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) automatically placed 483,800 students — representing 82% of those eligible. Among them, 248,038 (51.4%) are female. The remaining 107,509 students who were not automatically placed have been directed to use the self-placement portal.
Government response
Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Apaak, who toured the GNAT Hall, urged parents to remain calm.
“We understand the frustration, but the system cannot place every child in their first-choice school,” he said. “There are many good schools across the country, and our officers are here to guide parents and students through the process. By October 18, most of these issues will be resolved.”
He also cautioned against fraudsters. “The placement process is completely free, so no one should pay money to anyone promising shortcuts.”
