Secondary schools may have to send students home if the government does not release emergency funds to support feeding under the Free Senior High School programme, the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools has warned.
The warning from CHASS comes after a meeting with Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister for Education, failed to produce an agreement on how to resolve shortages of food supplies in schools.
The meeting, held at the Ministry of Education headquarters, involved CHASS, the National Food Buffer Stock Company, and the GETFund. Talks stalled over how to procure perishable items including vegetables, meat, and eggs, with funding delays making supply difficult.
To address the challenge, the Minister suggested that GETFund continue an arrangement for CHASS to procure perishables directly. No consensus was reached on the proposal.
The stalemate comes after CHASS and the Conference of Principals of Technical Institutions submitted a petition citing reduced supplies from the National Food Buffer Stock Company and pressure from inflation on school budgets.
CHASS said schools could be forced to close if immediate funds are not made available to buy essential food items. Such a move would affect the academic calendar and WASSCE preparations.
Some headteachers have been using their own money and obtaining food on credit from local traders to keep students fed, according to CHASS.
The feeding component of the Free SHS programme covers more than 1.2 million students nationwide. With talks unresolved, questions remain over the sustainability of the programme.
Stakeholders are expected to meet again in the coming days to continue discussions on a solution to the supply challenges.
