As first-year students began reporting to the various institutions yesterday, trunks, 'chop boxes,' mattresses, pillows, brooms, and brushes were moved from one second cycle boarding school to the next.
This follows their admission to various senior high schools (SHSs) and technical and vocational institutes (TVETs) through the Ghana Education Service's Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) (GES).
The students were supposed to report on February 20, but due to the short notice following their placement, the GES extended the reporting date to February 27, giving parents and guardians enough time to prepare to send their children and wards to school, according to a Daily Graphic team that monitored the process.
While Shirley Asiedu-Addo and Francisca Eshun in Cape Coast monitored the processes, Dickson Worlanyo Dotse and Yaa Kuffour Senyah in Accra observed.
On the first day of reporting, there were crowds of students who had converged on the various SHSs and TVET institutions to go through their confirmation on the schools' lists and registration.
Due to the large number of students and parents they had to attend to, some schools were forced to create additional spaces to accommodate their 'guests' by mounting canopies to attend to them and to expedite the process.
This is in addition to the use of assembly halls and other locations.
Students, particularly those going to boarding houses, were seen carrying trunks, mattresses, chop boxes, hoes, brooms, machetes, detergents, and packs of toiletries, as well as other items listed on their prospectus, based on the programs they have been offered to pursue.
Parents were seen carrying their children's chop boxes, which was a standout feature.
Observation
The team observed that as early as 4 a.m., students and their parents began arriving at the schools with the items listed on the prospectus.
Trunks and "chop boxes," mattresses, pillows, buckets, brooms, and brushes were among the items.
The roads to some of the schools were virtually gridlocked with anxious parents and students reporting, particularly at the Presbyterian Boys Secondary School (PRESEC, Legon), Accra Academy, and West Africa Senior High School.
They went to the Administration or designated registration points to confirm their admission and choose their bouquet of programs for their houses of residence and assigned dormitories.
Furthermore, most schools had implemented online registration portals, which made things easier, more efficient, and convenient, easing the burden on parents.
In general, the processes on all school grounds ran smoothly and without incident.
The Daily Graphic teams also noticed that most of the new students appeared calm and ready for their new surroundings, while those who had met their junior high school friends appeared excited to be together in SHS as well.
Legon, PRESEC
"Management of PRESEC, Legon made us do the registration online, which I must say is commendable because it has eased the long queues and hustle that would have been experienced here this morning," said a parent who only gave his name as Kofi.
The school's Assistant Headmaster in charge of Academics, Prince Agortey, told the Daily Graphic that the registration process went smoothly.
“However, due to the systems management has put in place, they were registered based on attendance,” the assistant headmaster said.
Mr Agortey said the school was expecting about 1,600 students and as of the time of the Daily Graphic's visit around 8 a.m., more than 400 students had registered, adding "I must say the process is smooth".
The Assistant Headmaster in charge of Academics at Accra Girls' SHS, Sebastian Akali-nya Adama, said the school was expecting a little more than 700 students.
In sharp contrast to the previous year, he noted that the school was looking to fill only the spaces left by graduating students this year.
"Last year, we had more applicants than we expected, and we wished we could stop admitting, but we couldn't because they came with the name of the school."
"But luckily for us, we had two new dormitories built at the time, so we were able to take care of them," he explained.
"However, this year we are only replacing the number that left; we had 840 completed, so we cannot go beyond that or we will cause congestion," Mr Adama added.
ATTC
The Vice-Principal in charge of Domestic at the Accra Technical Training Centre (ATTC), Robert Asante, stated that despite the school declaring 720 vacancies, only 580 had been placed at the time.
As a result, he maintained that there were enough spaces available for students undergoing self-placement methods and interested in technical education to be admitted to the school.
“Normally, when they do the placement some also change schools, so someone will be placed here but will not come.
“So those who come in for consideration when there is a vacancy, we will consider them,” Mr Asante added.
Cape Coast
In Cape Coast, some teachers, students and guardians indicated that the processes had so far been smooth.
A tutor at Adisadel College, Joycelyn Bain, said as early as 5:30 a.m. there were parents and students who had arrived in school with the listed of items on the prospectus.
She said the school started the registration at 8 a.m. at various points of registration to confirm their admission and directed them to their assigned houses after going through the processes.
Ms Bain added that the online registration portals had made things easier, more efficient and convenient, thereby easing pressure on the schools.
So far, she said, the school had not experienced any challenges, adding that they were expecting more students to arrive by the close of the week.
Adisadel College also had adequate teachers and more facilities to welcome the freshers in school, Ms Bain added.
A parent, Henrieta Owusu Ansah, who had accompanied her child to the school, said she was overwhelmed by the treatment she received from the teachers aside from the friendly way the students welcomed him.
Another parent, Emmanuel Ampiah, said the school environment was very serene for teaching and learning.
He added that the process was fast and it had been smooth for him.
A fresher at Adisadel College Augustine Prah, said he was offered General Science and was happy about the programme, adding that he would learn hard considering the conducive school environment he had seen.
Order
Parents at Ghana National College were instructed to park their cars in an orderly manner in order to ease traffic on the school grounds.
At the time of the visit, around 10 a.m., parents who arrived late were in line for registration.
Mary Arhin, a parent from Ablekuma in Accra, said she arrived at the school at 9 a.m. to begin registration.
She stated that the teachers who served her were courteous and that the registration process went smoothly.
Many new students had reported to the administration block at Aggrey Memorial Senior High School and were going through the registration process.
The Mfantsipim School and St Augustine's School had a similar experience.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0