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The Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced that students who participated in the 2026 BECE will commence their selection of second-cycle schools for computer placement from Monday, July 20, 2026, to Friday, August 7, 2026. In this blog post, we will cover some mistakes students can avoid in their Senior High School/Senior High Technical School (SHS/STHS) selection.

The selection of second-cycle schools is the most important stage of the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) because it ultimately determines a student’s school placement, regardless of their aggregate score.

According to the Ministry, the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) takes into account the aggregate and raw scores of students, the availability of vacancies in schools, and the popularity of specific programmes.

The Education Ministry has also said limited vacancies and high competition can affect the second-cycle school placement of a student; hence, the need to avoid certain mistakes we will cover later in the post.

So far, what we know currently is that five sets of data the school register, master file or bio file, choice file, vacancy file and results file by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) are used for the Computer School Placement.

7 mistakes students can avoid when choosing SHS/SHTS for placement

1. Not researching schools before BECE results are released

The mistake: Many students wait until results are released before they even start looking at schools. Then they rush to pick any school without knowing which ones are good for their programme, which ones have boarding, or where they are located. This leads to poor choices and regret later.

What to do instead: Use the time before results are released to research all the schools you are interested in. Find out:

Which programmes they offer

Whether they have day or boarding options

Where they are located

Their category (A, B, or C)

Their cut-off aggregates from previous years

When your results come out, you will already have a list of schools that match your performance. This way, you won’t rush or make careless mistakes during the one-week selection period.

2. Entering wrong school codes or programme codes

The mistake: The CSSPS works on a “Garbage-In, Garbage-Out” rule. If you type the wrong school code or programme code (e.g., picking code “6” instead of “5” for General Arts), the system will place you in the wrong school or wrong programme. 

What to do instead: Double-check every single code you enter. Make sure the school name matches the code, and the programme you want matches the correct programme code. 

3. Not following the Category rules for your six main schools

The mistake: Many students ignore the category rules and pick all their schools from Category A (the most competitive schools). This reduces their chances of getting placed anywhere, because those schools fill up quickly. 

What to do instead: You have two options for your six main schools in 2026 :

Option 1 (Recommended): Choose two schools from Category A (one boarding, one day), two from Category B (one boarding, one day), and two from Category C (one boarding, one day).

Option 2: Choose all six schools from Category C (three boarding, three day).

Do not mix these up. If you choose Option 1, you must pick from all three categories. 

4. Choosing day schools as your alternative schools

The mistake: Your two alternative schools are your backups. Some students pick day schools here, which is not allowed. 

What to do instead: Your two alternative schools must both be boarding schools. Day schools cannot be selected as alternatives. 

5. Only picking popular or “big-name” schools

The mistake: Many parents and students only want Category A schools, even if their grades are not high enough. This leads to “no placement” or being sent to a school far away. 

What to do instead: Be realistic. Look at your results and choose a mix of schools. If your aggregate is strong, you can try for Category A. If it’s average, focus more on Categories B and C where you have a better chance. 

6. Not checking if you marked “Day” or “Boarding” correctly

The mistake: Some students accidentally mark “Day” when they meant “Boarding,” or vice versa. The system places you based on what you select. If you mark “Day” for a school far from your home, you could be placed there with no boarding space. 

What to do instead: Carefully check the residential status (Day or Boarding) for each school before you submit.

7. Letting someone else fill the form for you without checking

The mistake: Sometimes teachers or parents fill the forms for students, and the student doesn’t check what was entered. Mistakes happen this way. 

What to do instead: Always review your form yourself before submitting. Ask a teacher or parent to help you check, but make sure you understand and agree with every choice.