Parents’ quest for “Hype” schools fuels corruption in SHS placement – Dr. Abraham Gyamfi
Dr. Abraham Gyamfi, A lecturer at AAMUSTED
A lecturer at the Akenten Appiah Menka University of Skills and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), Dr. Abraham Gyamfi, has revealed that many parents select Category A schools for their wards solely for the prestige associated with them.
According to Dr. Gyamfi, this trend has led to corruption and manipulation in the Senior High School (SHS) placement system.
Speaking on Kumasi-based OTEC 102.9 FM’s morning show Nyansapo, on Tuesday October 21, 2025 hosted by Kwaku Owusu Boateng aka KOB, Dr. Gyamfi explained that some parents are willing to pay large sums of money to secure placements for their children in these highly sought-after schools, often referred to as “big schools.”
“When it comes to the selection of schools, some people select based on hype,” Dr. Gyamfi stated. “If you like, let’s say the performance of any of these big schools is going down, still those in power will choose the school because of their names.”
Dr. Gyamfi further alleged that some individuals exploit the system, using their influence or money to secure placements for their children while blocking others.
“So, they try everything possible to get the slot there; they go behind the system to block certain individuals even before the random selection process begins on the computerized placement system,” he claimed.
“Some parents ready to get the hype pay for the slots to a point it turns competition sometimes.”
The lecturer called for a fair and transparent system that would give less privileged students a chance to secure placements in Category A schools.
Source: Ghana/otecmfghana.com /Jacob Agyenim Boateng
