The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference is calling for the implementation of a 20% admission quota for Catholic students in Catholic mission schools across the country.
The Bishops say one in every five places in these schools should be reserved annually for Catholic candidates, stressing that the demand is not a new proposal but a decision reached at the National Catholic Education Forum in Koforidua in 2025.
“This is therefore not a fresh proposal but a call for the implementation of a decision already taken,” the Conference said in a statement.
According to the Bishops, the arrangement would allow founding Churches to maintain a meaningful number of students who can participate in the religious and moral formation central to mission schools.
They said many parents turn to Catholic leaders for help in securing school placements, but the requested spaces are often unavailable.
“Many of our priests and bishops tell the same story: parents seek help in securing places in Catholic schools, but too often that help cannot be given because the places provided for under our decision are unavailable,” the statement said.
The Conference, however, stressed that the quota must not become a system of favouritism or corruption. It wants the arrangement administered transparently through Boards of Governors and diocesan education offices, backed by annual audits and a strict ban on monetary exchanges.
“It must never become a channel for corruption or favouritism,” the Bishops warned.
The Conference has instructed the National Catholic Secretariat’s education office to develop a plan for implementing the decision across Catholic schools.
Beyond the quota, the Bishops are calling for the conclusion of the long-discussed agreement between government and the Churches on the management of mission schools. They want the agreement to clearly define responsibilities for admissions, governance, appointment of school heads, religious and moral formation, discipline, infrastructure and accountability.
The Bishops have also called for a review of the Computerised School Selection and Placement System, raising concerns about fairness and transparency.
They noted that 604,567 candidates qualified for placement this year, while 527,932 had been placed when the results were released.
The Conference further wants students to be placed in schools suitable for their sex, disability, circumstances and location.
It also called for investigations into allegations that some parents are being asked to pay money to secure school places, while demanding greater clarity on so-called “protocol” admissions, including their legal basis, the number of places involved and the criteria used.
The Bishops are proposing an independent review of the placement system, a stronger appeals process and clearer information for parents.
“A fair placement system must not only produce fair outcomes; it must also be transparent enough for families to understand and trust,” they said.
The Conference said its ultimate goal is a placement system where “merit, choice, fairness, and above all the good of the child determine who is admitted.”
