STAKEHOLDERS‟ PERCEPTION OF THE COMPUTERIZED SCHOOLS SELECTION PLACEMENT SYSTEM IN ASHANTI REGION..

ABSTRACT The Computerized School Selection and Placement System introduced in Ghana is yet to fully realize its usefulness as there are still elements of influence in the placement system far from the raw scores. The increasing level of inefficiencies therefore requires an investigation into stakeholders‟ perception on the CSSPS and its ability to resolve the challenges of the manual placement system. The study adopted a mixed research design involving the administration of questionnaires to 386 students, 302 teachers and 77 parents selected through multistage sampling procedure and, interviews conducted with headteachers. The data collected were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The results showed that stakeholders perceived the CSSPS as corrupt as parents and school administrators sometimes use money to influence officers at computerized secretariat in selecting and placing their wards to their choice of schools and also the politicians used their political power to sometimes influence the admission process. Stakeholders further perceived the system to have lapses regarding placing girls into boy‟s school and vice versa. The result however showed that the gap between boys and girls enrolment into senior high schools is still far from success. The ratio of boys‟ to girls‟ enrolment in the senior high schools however was more equitable in the urban schools relative to the rural schools. The prospects include gaining admission to top schools, increase in the student population and reduction human errors. Challenges of the system are difficulty of getting preferred school and course as well as the failure of the system to select students with talents in sports. Thus, the study recommends establishment of verification and monitoring body, stiffer punishment for offenders of corrupt practices, and upgrading of the rural schools to match the standard of urban school to enhance the effectiveness of CSSPS to achieve its intended goals.