Teacher unions, Ghana association of teachers (GNAT), National association of graduate teachers (NAGRAT), and Coalition of Concern Teachers Ghana ( CCT-GH) yesterday bemoan the fact that since the re-opening of schools for the 2020/2021 academic year government has not provided food to the free senior high schools making heads of schools to borrow money to feed students.
They warn the government and other stakeholders in education to release funds to the free senior high schools account or they will advise themselves.
The unions disclosed this in their statement saying “The situation at the SHSs is critical and has brought the SHSs on their knees owing to the delays in releasing the GOG funds, non-supply of food items by the Buffer Stock Company and compounded by the early reporting at school at the beginning of each term, compared to the period preceding the Free SHS, now students no longer have to wait for school fees to be provided them before reporting to school,”
In response to their statement, the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) has promised that they are on course to address the food challenges raised by teacher unions to help prevent the closure of schools.
They assured teachers that the food challenges will be addressed immediately.
“We wish to acknowledge that there have been genuine challenges relating to the supply of some specific food commodities and wish to assure that frantic efforts have been underway to address the concerns raised, particularly in ensuring adequate and regular supply of food to the schools. It is our fervent hope that the challenges will be resolved in a timeous manner in order to avert any potential closure of our schools.” NAFCO said