Assessment Of Computerized School Selection and Placement System in Ghana: A Fit and Viability Theory Approach

Abstract

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) advancement has led to the digitization of selection and placement systems in a developing economy such as Ghana. As a result, the Ghana Education Service (GES) 2005 introduce the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) to improve selection and placement transparency and equity of Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates into Second-Cycle Schools (SCSs), and to reduce the number of human errors connected with the manual system of BECE candidate selection and placement. Nevertheless, there exist limited studies in this area of Information systems (IS) research in developing economies despite the numerous merits of this technological advancement. The attention of extant research has largely been placed on a predictive model, logistic regression model and machine-learning model as a tool to predict the students' placement with little consideration for the use of IS Theories such as Fit Viability Theory. Other studies have also discussed various concepts, stakeholders' opinions, and journals among others on the subject and have reflected on the relevance and transformation of the CSSPS and how it is helping shape the technological facets of developing economies’ educational system as a whole. To fill the gap, this study, therefore, seeks to evaluate the CSSPS implementation in a developing economy particularly Ghana since its commencement. This study also aims to determine how well the task and technology match (fit) the demand of CSSPS in addition to its economic factors, IT Infrastructure and organizational viability have impacted its general performance. The CSSPS ecosystem's core stakeholders (the Implementation Agency, SCSs Heads, BECE Candidate, JHS Heads and parents/guardians of the BECE Candidates) are the focus of this study, which employs a critical realism paradigm and a qualitative research approach. The study interviewed twenty-five (25) respondents (two from the CSSPS Secretariat, two heads of SHSs, three deputy heads of SCSs, fifteen (15) candidates and three parents/guardians). The respondents for this study were chosen via purposeful sampling, which was based on their level of involvement and the various roles they play in the CSSPS implementation. The results indicate that, while the CSSPS was a good fit for the reason for which it was implemented, its viability goals were not fully met. The findings also indicated that CSSPS performance level when introduced was below expectation but has improved over time, hence satisfactory performance. The findings of this study essentially encouraged researchers to focus on the task, technological, and environmental aspects of the CSSPS implementation and performance rather than solely on whether or not the CSSPS is a better alternative to the manual Selection and Placement System (SP). The study also extends the fit viability theory beyond IS adoption and implementation to pinpoint the CSSPS's required task and environmental needs, as well as its implementation performance. According to the report of this study, future studies should use additional approaches to evaluate the CSSPS's fitness in developing nations. Future studies combining the FVT with other theories for both public and private SCSs are needed to replicate this study to evaluate the CSSPS' fitness and performance level. Future research should look into the effectiveness of the CSSPS's various fit and viability factors to see how they affect its implementation.