Ghana’s Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has assured the public that government has made adequate financial provisions to guarantee consistent food supply for students under the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme.
According to the minister, authorities have reviewed the implementation of the flagship policy and identified feeding challenges as one of the major issues affecting the smooth running of secondary schools in recent years.
Speaking during the commissioning of the National Teaching Council regional office complex in Tamale, Mr. Iddrisu said new measures had been introduced to prevent disruptions caused by food shortages in schools.
Government Addresses Feeding Challenges
The Education Minister acknowledged that inadequate food supply had previously forced some schools to suspend academic activities and send students home before the end of term.
“Having examined the feeding of Free Senior High School students, we realised that there were many times that schools had to be closed down or, in the course of the academic year, students had to be asked to go home because there was inadequate food. That is now a thing of the past.” - Haruna Iddrisu
Mr. Iddrisu explained that government had strengthened financing arrangements to ensure uninterrupted support for the programme and improve conditions in senior high schools nationwide.
GETFund to Support Free SHS
The minister further disclosed that the Ghana Education Trust Fund would play a central role in sustaining funding for the Free SHS programme.
“There are adequate resources and adequate funding from GETFund to finance Free Senior High School,” he said.
The assurance comes amid growing public interest in the sustainability of the Free SHS policy, which remains one of Ghana’s largest social intervention programmes.
Government officials say the renewed financing structure is expected to improve food supply systems, support uninterrupted teaching and learning, and strengthen the overall implementation of the policy across the country.
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