The Eastern Region Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) is currently debating closing local schools due to the lack of food supplies.
According to a statement, there have been food shortages for the past two years as well as issues with the given food products’ lower weight.
“Food suppliers have been giving underweight food to the schools for a while. One illustration is the reduction of 100 kg of maize to 50 or 60 kg, the association said in a statement.
It also lamented the irregular release of funding intended for perishable goods, which contributed to school debt.
“Funds designated for recurring [expenses] have only been released once since 2021. By extension, recurrent funds have been late since 2021 and will be late for six months into 2022, according to the company.
The group is considering closing schools if nothing changes by July 15 as a result of these difficulties.
It is also taking into consideration suggestions that until everything returns to normal, parents “either feed their wards or pick them home.”
The difficulties would be resolved by July 12, according to the Education Ministry’s pledges.
This past Sunday, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Minister of Education, met with the CHASS administration.
Nevertheless, despite the government’s pledge, schools continue to voice their dissatisfaction with the shortages.
In response to these difficulties, Parliament has established an ad hoc committee to investigate the National Food Buffer Stock Company’s and the National School Feeding Program’s operations.
The committees’ purpose includes, among other things, examining the organizations’ viability and sustainability, particularly in light of recent claims of food scarcity in Senior High Schools and demands from school catering companies for an increase in the cost of feeding pupils.