The Conference of Heads of Assisted Senior High Schools (CHASS) has called on parents to support the feeding of their wards in senior high schools amid worsening food shortages.
Speaking to JoyNews, CHASS National Secretary Primus Baro revealed that many schools are grappling with inadequate food supplies, leading to rationing. He urged parents to send students with items like gari, shitor, and sugar to supplement what schools can provide.
“Food supplies to schools, particularly in the northern regions, are critically low,” Baro noted. “In some schools, oil is unavailable, and alternatives like margarine are being used for cooking. Staples such as maize and beans are also scarce, leaving rice and gari as the only available options.”
CHASS had previously requested that the Ghana Education Service (GES) postpone reopening schools until financial arrears were settled. However, GES rejected this plea, resulting in a dire situation for schools just five days into the new term.
The Free Senior High School (SHS) programme, launched by the previous Nana Akufo-Addo administration, has faced persistent challenges, including inadequate classroom and dormitory facilities and insufficient food. Critics argue that the programme prioritizes quantity over quality in education, while others have called for reforms to ensure sustainability.
President John Mahama, in his campaign, promised to reform and enhance the Free SHS programme without abandoning it. Meanwhile, stakeholders are pressing for immediate measures to address the current crisis.
