CSSPS Software Programmer Explains Placement Process

The consultant who designed the Computer School Selection Placement System (CSSPS) Software, Dr. Harriet Somuah, has been providing answers to the furore generated by this year’s placement of Junior High School Graduates into Senior High Schools. According to the software programmer, the CSSPS uses “the modified raw score in the placement" process, thus "obtaining Grade 1 in all subjects (or 10 ones), does not necessarily mean that a candidate should get his/her first choice school by all means”. “For the placement into Senior High Schools, (SHS) 4 core subjects and 2 best subjects are used in the grading, as it is not so in the certification...your aggregate six may not be the same as the subjects for the six in placement…English, Science, Mathematics and Social Studies are the four main core subjects used in the placement system so if you do not pass in any of them, you will not qualify for placement,” she asserted. She was speaking in an exclusive interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi on PEACEFM’s “Kokrokoo”. Computerized selection of candidates who were successful in last April’s BECE was completed last week and the list is expected to be released to the various heads of schools today, Thursday, October 1st, 2009. The CSSPS faced teething problems, when it was first introduced in 2005; however, experts maintain the system has improved remarkably this year, and a far cry from what parents used to go through in searching for a secondary school for their wards. Nearly three quarters of the four-hour flagship programme, was today dedicated to addressing concerns by parents and students, who felt wronged by the CSSPS. When the phone lines were activated a lot of angry parents poured forth their frustration, with some even questioning the wisdom in the CSSPS putting their wards in schools they did not select. One parent told an interesting story of the ward being placed in the school for the Deaf and Dumb, eventhough the youngster was not physically handicapped. Dr. Somuah was emphatic that “the CSSPS, this year, did not placed any student in a school he or she did not select because of earlier complaints received.” She however, admitted that there were a couple of students who have not been placed in any school at all. “…it’s true, quite a good number of students have been placed in any school, but stakeholders are meeting to fashion out ways of addressing that,” she assured. Source: Alex Ofei/peacefmonline