2026 BECE Placement Results: 527,932 Students Placed; Government Opens Self-Placement for 53,887 Candidates

The Ministry of Education has released the 2026 Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) results, with 527,932 candidates successfully placed in Senior High Schools (SHSs), Senior High Technical Schools (SHTSs), and technical and vocational institutions across the country.

Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on September 7, 2026, Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, disclosed that the placement results were released at 10:00 p.m. on September 4, 2026.

According to the Ministry, a total of 623,072 candidates sat for the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), representing an increase of 19,744 candidates compared to the 603,328 who sat for the examination in 2025.

Out of the 623,072 candidates, 604,567 qualified for placement, while 527,932 were automatically placed, representing 87.3 percent of all qualified candidates.

Of those automatically placed, 276,521 are females and 251,411 are males.

The Ministry explained that the failure of some qualified candidates to secure automatic placement was largely due to the high demand for Category A schools.

Data from the placement exercise shows that 313,283 candidates selected Category A schools as their first choice, while 176,614 selected Category B schools, 123,577 selected Category C schools, and 995 opted for private Senior High Schools.

However, the available vacancies stood at 76,417 in Category A schools, 250,366 in Category B schools and 468,652 in Category C schools, bringing the total declared vacancies to 859,828.

Dr. Apaak explained that the challenge was not a shortage of school places but rather a mismatch between the school’s candidates preferred and where vacancies were available.

“The issue is not simply the availability of spaces. It is largely a mismatch between where vacancies exist and where candidates most strongly prefer to be placed,” he said.

The Ministry further disclosed that 57,259 candidates did not meet the requirements for automatic placement.

This figure includes 3,372 candidates who did not sit for the BECE, 35,382 candidates who obtained Grade 9 in either English Language or Mathematics, and 18,505 candidates who obtained Grade 9 in both subjects.

Government has, however, decided to allow candidates who obtained Grade 9 in English Language and/or Mathematics to access the self-placement portal and select schools with available vacancies.

The 3,372 candidates without examination results will not be placed at this stage but will be given another opportunity to resit the examination.

Meanwhile, 85 private Senior High Schools will participate in the Free SHS programmed for the 2026/2027 academic year.

The Ministry said the inclusion of the private schools is aimed at expanding access to secondary education while reducing pressure on highly subscribed public schools.

To make the admission process easier, the CSSPS has also been upgraded to include an admission portal through which parents can enroll their children and download admission forms without having to travel to the schools.

Heads of schools have been cautioned against admitting students outside the official placement system.

The Ministry has also established resolution centers at all regional Ghana Education Service (GES) and Ghana TVET Service offices to assist parents and candidates with placement-related concerns.

The GNAT Hall in Accra has been designated as the National Placement Resolution Centre.

Dr. Apaak stressed that the school placement process is completely free and warned parents against paying money to individuals who claim they can secure or change placements.

“No parent should pay money to any individual, whether that person claims to be an official of the Ministry, GES, TVET Service, a school official or intermediary, to secure or change placement. There is no legitimate protocol placement that requires payment,” he said.

He urged parents and candidates to report anyone demanding money for placement to the Ghana Police Service or the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

Parents and candidates who require assistance can contact the official CSSPS call center on 055 037 7388, 059 952 5926, 059 844 5898, 059 797 4847, or 055 855 5431.