The Ministry of Education has launched an investigation into allegations that school placements under the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) system are being sold for money.
The move follows a viral social media post attributed to one Gertrude Adzo Borklo, who alleged that gaining admission into Aburi Girls Senior High School cost GH¢1,500. The Ministry says the claim is false and risks creating the impression that the Computerized School Placement System is up for sale.
Deputy Minister for Education, Dr Clement Abas Apaak, said the allegation is being taken seriously, and security agencies, including the National Security and the Cyber Security Authority, have been asked to track down individuals behind such falsehoods.
Attempts to reach the individual who made the initial claim have so far been unsuccessful, as her account was deactivated shortly after the post went viral. The Ministry also noted that anonymous or “ghost” accounts continue to circulate similar stories.
Dr Apaak stressed that the placement system is entirely free and at no point is payment required to access it. He urged the public to provide information about any official or third party who demands money for placements.
“The Ministry assures swift and decisive action against any individual found culpable,” he stated, adding that the public can report such incidents via the dedicated hotlines provided.
He further appealed for public cooperation to protect the transparency and integrity of the school placement system and to ensure that unscrupulous individuals do not take advantage of anxious parents.
