Candidates seeking placement into Senior High Schools (SHSs) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in 2026 will be allowed to select no more than two Category A schools under Ghana’s Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).
The requirement is part of the 2026 SHS/TVET School Selection and CSSPS Placement Guide, issued jointly by the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ghana TVET Service.
The guide, released on 3 August 2026, says candidates who sat this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) must choose eight schools and rank them in order of preference.
They must also specify their preferred programme at each school and state whether they want to attend as boarding or day students.
Under the selection rules, candidates can choose up to two Category A schools and a maximum of three Category B schools. Their remaining three choices must come from Category C schools.
The guidelines also make clear that a candidate cannot list the same school more than once among their eight selections.
Aggregate score is not the only factor
The GES says automatic placement through the CSSPS will not be determined by a candidate’s aggregate score alone.
The placement process will also consider the programme selected, the candidate’s boarding or day preference and the availability of places at the chosen school.
“Your aggregate is important, but it is not the only factor,” the guide states.
Candidates have been advised to give careful thought to the order in which they list their schools. Their first choice should be the institution they most want to attend, as the selections are ranked according to preference.
The guide separately sets limits on boarding and day-school choices. Candidates may select a maximum of five boarding schools and three day schools.
Those choosing day institutions are advised to select schools located within a reasonable travelling distance of their homes.
The placement outcome will be confirmed through a placement slip for candidates who are successfully assigned a school. The document will state the candidate’s school, chosen programme, boarding or day status and reporting date.
Candidates must print the placement slip and present it when they report to the school to which they have been assigned.
The 2026 selection process therefore requires candidates to balance ambition and preference with the category limits, accommodation choices and the availability of vacancies that will affect automatic placement under the CSSPS.
