The Ghana Education Service (GES) has commenced the 2025 Senior High School (SHS) placement exercise, successfully placing 483,800 students into secondary institutions nationwide.
This figure represents 82% of the 590,309 candidates who qualified, following the release of the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results. The announcement was made by the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, at a news conference in Accra.
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Dr. Apaak revealed that 603,328 candidates sat for the exams, with 248,038 females (51.4%) among those placed. However, 107,509 qualified candidates (18.2%) were not matched with their initial school choices due to competition for top-tier schools. To support them, the Ministry has activated a self-placement portal, including 70 private SHSs piloting the Free SHS Programme this year, alongside 724 public SHSs and 233 technical and vocational schools.
He stressed that the placement exercise is “absolutely free”, warning parents and guardians not to pay money to any officials or agents. “Anyone soliciting payment must be reported to the nearest police station or the Office of the Special Prosecutor,” he emphasised. Resolution centres have also been established at the district, regional, and national levels, with the GNAT Hall in Accra serving as the national centre.
Meanwhile, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) reported irregularities during the exams. The results of 177 candidates were cancelled for malpractice, with the subject results of 718 others annulled. WAEC further withheld the results of 93 candidates, while some subject results from 119 schools were cancelled and those from 87 schools were withheld for investigations.
Dr. Apaak urged parents, teachers, and communities to support students through the transition: “Whether placed directly or through the self-placement portal, every student has a clear pathway to continue their education. Let us all support them to succeed for Ghana’s progress.”
