IT expert exposes weaknesses in Computerised School Selection Placement System
Kwasi Adabo Boakye, IT technician
IT technician, Kwasi Adabo Boakye, has blamed the recent challenges surrounding the Computerised School Selection Placement System (CSSPS) on government’s failure to test its placement software before launching the project.
Read full article According to him, the placement glitches could be avoided if government had done due diligence.
“The CSSPS is a yearly project so if it does not go through the necessary tests days before it’s ready to be used, you are caught off guard with unforeseen issues.” He explained
His statement follows challenges about the placement system which has caused public outcry with regards to issues of wrong placements and some students claiming that they have not been posted to any school.
Hundreds of students and their parents stormed the placement centre at the Black Stars Square to lodge complaints that they have been either asked to return from the schools they had been initially posted to by the CSSPS or been given schools which are not part of their selected five choices.
However, the Minister for Education, Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh, has apologized to parents and guardians who suffered hardships while seeking school placement for their wards.
As measures are been put in place to manage the situation, Kwasi Adabo Boakye said this placement challenges could have been avoided if government had done due diligence before executing the placement.
Speaking in an interview on Adom Fm he said, “You know with software programmes, there must be anticipation that something may go wrong hence the need for a backup plan
Also he noted that the unlike other softwares made specifically for institutions or individuals, the CSSPS is for public consumption hence without testing, careful exposure to the internet, and background checks, “hackers will capitalize on the weak system, and some unscrupulous persons who have access may acquire part of the application to make money out of it.”
“It is necessary to safeguard against such to prevent distortions.” He added
The lead IT technician has, therefore, called on government to put in place measures to secure the software application in order to prevent hacks.
