The Ministry of Education has extended the 2026 Senior High School (SHS) placement exercise by at least one week, giving students with outstanding placement challenges additional time to secure schools ahead of the September 18 reopening date.

The extension is expected to benefit students who are yet to complete the self-placement process, as well as those seeking changes to their residential status before reporting to their assigned schools.

As part of the extension, resolution centres across the country will remain operational from Monday to Friday to assist students and parents with unresolved placement concerns.

Press Secretary to the Education Minister, Hashmin Mohammed, said significant progress has already been made in addressing the challenges since the placement exercise began.

He disclosed that out of the 53,887 students who were required to undertake self-placement, 33,726 have so far successfully secured placement in various schools.

He added that the CSSPS Secretariat had also received 9,948 cases at resolution centres nationwide, of which 4,531 had been resolved.

“Out of the 53,887 category of self-placement students, we have had 33,726 who have been able to self-place themselves into various schools and out of 9,948 reported cases at the resolution centres throughout the country, the CSSPS Secretariat has been able to resolve 4,531 so far,” he said.

Mr Mohammed expressed optimism that the number of unresolved cases would drop significantly before students are expected to report to school on September 18.

“The resolution centres will remain active from Monday till Friday and we are hoping that by Friday, the numbers should be able to go down because on September 18, they will report to school,” he added.

The Ministry is therefore urging students and parents with outstanding placement issues to take advantage of the extended period and visit the designated resolution centres to have their concerns addressed before the reporting deadline.