Haruna Iddrisu hits Back at Adutwum Over School Placement

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has criticised former Education Minister Yaw Osei Adutwum over his comments on the challenges surrounding the 2026 Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).

Speaking in an interview on an Accra- based TV stationon Friday, September 11, Mr Iddrisu questioned why Dr Adutwum was offering solutions to the placement challenges after leaving office.

He explained that the current administration inherited the existing placement system and acknowledged that placing students in their preferred schools remained a major challenge.

Mr Iddrisu was responding to comments attributed to Dr Adutwum, who reportedly suggested that the government seek his advice on how to resolve the difficulties.

“If he did it better, then why are we here? We would not have been struggling for placement,” Mr Iddrisu stated.

He pointed to the gap between demand and available spaces, noting that about 328,000 students selected Category A schools, while only 76,000 vacancies were available.

The Minister stressed that no Education Minister could easily place hundreds of thousands of students into schools where the available spaces were far fewer than the number of applicants.

He said the government understood the difficulties within the system and was working to address them, but stakeholders must also recognise the structural limitations affecting the placement process.

Mr Iddrisu further questioned the usefulness of Dr Adutwum’s offer to provide advice, given his previous responsibility for the education sector.

“So, when he says come to me for advice, what advice?” he asked.