Source: tntnewspapergh.com
The Ministry of Education has assured parents and other stakeholders in the educational sector that the ministry has put in place pragmatic measures to ensure a regular supply of food to all senior high schools (SHSs), as well as technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions in the country.
The Spokesperson for the Education Ministry, Mr Kwasi Kwarteng, who disclosed this information to the media on Friday,15th March 2024, gave the assurance following recent concerns raised by some Ghanaians on food supply to schools.
The concerns compelled Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Education Minister, to task teams from the Education Ministry, Ghana Education Service and the Free Senior High School Secretariat to tour the entire country to ascertain the true state of food supply in schools across the country.
Dr.Osei Yaw Adutwum,Education Minister
He explained that, after the tour, the teams confirmed that currently all schools have adequate stocks of food in their storage facilities.
Mr Kwarteng stated that there is also a prompt and up-to-date payment of funds allocated for the purchase of perishable food items to all schools.
He said feedback from the headmasters of the various schools and students visited by the teams indicated overall satisfaction with the quality and quantity of food being served.
He, however, stated that if there was any particular school that had a peculiar challenge in connection with the supply of food from the zones, that would be treated with urgency as a special case.
The spokesperson assured parents and all other stakeholders in the educational sector to have confidence in the ministry’s swift and hands-on response to the issue since the government continues to prioritise the welfare of students, as well as other efforts being made to contribute to the overall enhancement of food security in SHSs.
He noted that the sector Minister is personally interested in the smooth running of all schools at all levels of education in the country and would continue to adopt prudent measures to ensure the creation of a conducive environment in all schools for effective teaching and learning to take place.
Background
Following reports and speculations about irregular distribution of food items to SHSs/TVET institutions across the country recently, the sector Minister, Dr Osei Yaw Adutwum, tasked teams to all regions in the country to ascertain the true state of affairs in connection with food supply in schools.
Their visits to the schools, which were aimed at obtaining first-hand information on food distribution and feeding practices at selected SHSs, was a proactive approach and a testament to the ministry’s commitment to ensuring the well-being of students in the educational system.
