ACCRA: The Ghana Education Ministry has announced the release of the 2025 Senior High School (SHS)/TVET placement results and says that more than 107,000 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates who qualified for placement will need to use the self-placement module on the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).
In total 590,309 candidates qualified for placement this year; 483,800 were automatically placed while 107,509 candidates must self-place.
Quick summary
- Total qualified for placement: 590,309.
- Automatically placed: 483,800 (≈82%).
- Required to self-place: 107,509 candidates.
- Where to check placement and self-place: the official CSSPS portal (www.cssps.gov.gh)
How placement normally works
Ghana’s Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) matches BECE qualifiers to available slots across public SHSs/SHTSs, Technical & Vocational Institutions (TVIs) and participating private SHSs.
Candidates submit ranked school choices at selection time; the CSSPS then attempts to place students automatically based on performance, choices and available vacancies.
Where a match cannot be made automatically (because preferred schools are full, programme codes mismatch, or student ranking falls below cut-offs), the system opens a self-placement module so the student can pick from schools with available spaces.
What the Ministry announced (key details)
- The placement release covers 724 public SHSs/SHTSs, 233 TVIs, and 70 private SHSs that are part of this year’s exercise. The Ministry said the inclusion of private schools has been expanded this year, with a pilot of more private SHSs under the Free SHS arrangement now visible on the portal.
- A pre-placement review window and an explainer process were introduced earlier to reduce errors during placement. Candidates were asked to verify personal details and school choices on CSSPS ahead of release.
- Resolution centres have been set up at district, regional and national levels (with the GNAT Hall in Accra named as a national centre) to assist candidates and handle disputes or corrections.
Step-by-step: How students should self-place right now
- Go to the CSSPS portal: www.cssps.gov.gh
and use the placement checker with your BECE Index Number and Date of Birth. - Log in to the Self-Placement module: if your record shows “not automatically placed,” the portal will direct you to schools with available vacancies.
- Review available schools: carefully read programme codes (general SHS, technical, science, vocational tracks) and location before selecting.
- Select and confirm: choose one school and confirm; the system will lock your choice once submitted. Take a screenshot or print the confirmation page.
- Report to school on given dates: the Ministry/GES will publish reporting dates for placed students, follow official GES communications for reporting windows and orientation details.
Practical tips and warnings
- Act quickly but carefully. Self-placement lists are of finite capacity; delaying can reduce options. (Note: check the portal for the active window/dates.)
- Verify identity details (index number, date of birth, gender) before placing, errors can prevent placement or create problems at reporting.
- Use resolution centres if your portal is malfunctioning, or if there appear to be errors in your records district/regional centres exist for assistance. GNAT Hall is the national centre for complex cases.
- Beware of fraud: only use the official CSSPS portal and official channels. Avoid individuals or groups promising guaranteed placements for a fee. Several news outlets and GES advisories regularly warn against unauthorised admissions or registration intermediaries.
Why so many candidates need to self-place this year?
- Officials point to a combination of factors:
High competition for top-tier schools with limited vacancies. - Mismatch between choices and available programme slots for some candidates.
- An expanded list of participating institutions and a growing candidate cohort, which can create temporary misalignments while the automated algorithm balances all inputs. Deputy Minister and other officials encouraged affected students to use the self-placement portal to secure placements.
What this means for policy and planning
The large number of self-placements underscores persistent capacity constraints in desirable schools and highlights ongoing pressure on the secondary system as BECE candidate numbers rise.
The piloting of more private schools under the Free SHS programme shows a policy shift to use private sector capacity to ease congestion — an approach that will require monitoring for quality, equity and long-term sustainability.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Where do I check my placement?
A: Use the CSSPS placement checker at www.cssps.gov.gh
with your BECE index number and date of birth.
Q: I wasn’t placed automatically, what deadline do I have to self-place?
A: The portal runs for a limited window. Check the CSSPS portal and GES announcements for exact dates and the portal’s live period. Officials earlier indicated pre-placement and reporting windows to reduce errors.
Q: What if the portal doesn’t work?
A: Visit your district or regional resolution centre — national support has also been arranged. GNAT Hall in Accra is the named national centre in this exercise.
If you (or someone you’re helping) must self-place: have your BECE index number and date of birth ready, use the official CSSPS portal, read available programme codes carefully, and keep proof of your selection. If anything looks wrong, use the resolution centres immediately — they exist precisely to sort cases like this.
The main official portal for checking BECE placement and doing self-placement in Ghana is:
https://www.cssps.gov.gh
That’s the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) website run by the Ministry of Education/GES. From there you can check your placement status, access the self-placement module, and read any official announcements.
