Private Schools Unhappy With GES Over 30 Percent Category A Schools Allocation For Public Schools; Calls for Equity

Prof Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa says he has proposed for an SHS entrance examination to be conducted for private school BECE graduates before they are given admission into any of the public Category A second cycle schools in the country.

The Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) who disclosed this in an interview with Asempa 94.7 FM monitored by EducationWeb said the Secondary school admission entrance test would be a step in the right direction.

“In our various meetings I have suggested 80% or 90% Category A placement to be allocated to students from public schools and those from private schools be made to write an entrance exam before given admission,” Mr Opoku stated.

He told the host of the Ekosiisen show “I would want the 30% ‘Category A’ school allocation currently reserved for public schools to be given to the private and even with that allow them to sit for an entrance test after the BECE.”

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) Samuel Nyamekye has called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to stop reserving 30% placement slots for public basic school pupils.

Samuel Nyamekye speaking to EducationWeb said it is unfair and unfortunate for the Service to deny private school students who pay their BECE registration fee access to ‘Category A’ schools by reserving 30% for public schools.

“It is very unfair and unfortunate for private school students to pay their BECE registration fee and be denied full access to Category A schools by reserving 30% for public schools. We need an explanation to this,” Nyamekye lamented.

The Private Schools Council spokesman citing the 1992 Constitution, article 25 clauses 1 and 2, said every individual who wishes to operate a private business, and or school does so without any form of hindrances or intimidation.

“We are calling on the management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to come out and explain to us and the entire public for such unwarranted policy to be formulated and implemented in our education system,” Mr Samuel urged.

Source:educationweb.com.gh