SHS/TVET Placement: Dr. Apaak assures a free, fair, transparent process

The placement portal for Senior High Schools and Technical and Vocational Institutions has officially been opened.

Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Clement Apaak, has assured parents, guardians, and candidates that the 2025 placement exercise will remain free and transparent. He emphasized that no one should pay money to secure placement, stressing that the system is designed to give all candidates equal opportunity.

“Placement is absolutely free. Report anyone who solicits money immediately to the police or the Office of the Special Prosecutor,” Dr. Apaak declared at a press briefing in Accra.

Announcing the details, the Deputy Minister revealed that 483,800 candidates out of 590,309 qualified students had been placed, representing 82 percent. He explained that while 107,509 candidates could not be matched with their first choices due to high demand for certain schools, the self-placement portal had been activated to ensure fairness.

“This is about expanding opportunities. The self-placement portal gives every child the chance to continue their education, even if they could not access their first-choice school,” Dr. Apaak explained.

He further disclosed that this year’s exercise covers 724 public Senior High Schools and Technical Schools, 233 TVET institutions, and 70 private Senior High Schools newly added under the Free SHS pilot project. According to him, this expansion was necessary to reduce pressure on oversubscribed schools.

“To ensure every Ghanaian child has a pathway, we have added private schools under the Free SHS Programme. This is proof of the government’s commitment to equity and access,” he said.

Dr. Apaak also used the occasion to caution parents against fraudsters who exploit placement seasons. “Do not be deceived by anyone who claims they can change a placement. The system is computerized, secure, and cannot be manipulated,” he warned.

To support families, the Ministry has set up resolution centres across districts, regions, and at the national level, with the GNAT Hall in Accra serving as the main hub. Hotlines and WhatsApp numbers are also active to address complaints.

The Deputy Minister congratulated candidates on their achievement and urged parents to support them regardless of where they have been placed. “Every school on the portal has been vetted and approved. What matters is the opportunity to learn, and every placement is a step forward,” he added.

He concluded with an appeal for public trust in the system. “This is a free and fair process. Let us work together to make it successful for our children and for Ghana,” he said.