Hunger Among SHS Students Continues; Apaak Files Urgent Questions

…As Greater Accra CHASS Joins Other Regions To Shutdown Schools; Apaak Files Urgent Questions

By: Gifty Arthur

The unending food shortage in public Senior High Schools (SHSs) has entered another week without any intervention, despite assurance by government to dispatch track loads of food to affected institutions last week.

The situation, which has affected several schools across the country, is leaving authorities, particularly some regional branch of Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) with no other option than a shutdown.

The latest to have joined the call is the Greater Accra Regional branch of CHASS who issued its version of threat to shut down schools over the ongoing food shortage crisis.

Dr. Clement Apaak, MP

Already, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Builsa South constituency, Dr Clement Apaak, who is also the Deputy Ranking on the Education Committee, has filed two urgent questions concerning the situation.

Recall that last week, The Anchor published how desperate and hungry students at Cape Coast based Wesley Girls Senior High School, are breaking into chop-boxes of their mates to steal food.

In a resolution last week sighted by this paper, CHASS gave a 3-day ultimatum telling government to do the needful by addressing the issues raised including the shortage, or students would be asked to go home until further notice.

“GAR-CHASS, therefore, recommend that if by Friday, 15 July, 2022, the above issues raised are not adequately heeded, all SHS 2 students should be allowed to go home and report anytime the situation improves. Parents of SHS 3 students be permitted to either pick their wards as Day Students or provide them with their meals from home”, CHASS said.

The latest threat of school shut down comes on the back of separate statements by Upper East and Eastern Regions, where the school heads gave government, a 7-day ultimatum to fix the situation, describing it as dire.

The regional CHASS disclosed in a statement following an emergency meeting held at the Queen of Peace Senior High School in Wa. It said there are food shortages in all schools in the region, which have been caused by local suppliers’ refusal to supply food to various schools.

“It came out that the food suppliers contracted by Buffer Stock Company and those local suppliers contacted to help out are all refusing to supply due to non-payment of outstanding monies owed for food supplied to the schools. This has led to serious food shortages in all the schools in the region. In fact, an assessment of the situation indicated that most schools cannot go beyond one week if nothing urgent is done about it.”

In a similar fashion, the GAR-CHASS in its statement dated July 12, 2022, touched on the lack of supply of food and money situations, as well as the just ended strike by four teacher unions over Cost of Living Allowance (CoLA) and others matters arising.

According to the Heads, “At an emergency meeting held on the 12th of July, 2022, at St Thomas Aquinas Senior High School, Accra members after a lengthy discussions on the above subject resolved among other things to make a presentation to the Region Director”.

The statement signed by the Regional Chairman and Secretary Paul Amoasi Baidoo and Philomena Owusu-Ansah respectively listed the various food items that are lacking in the schools.

The three point statement said “A review of the food situation in schools shows that schools are in dire need of the following food items. Flour, sugar, palm oil, soya beans and vegetable oil, millet, sardine, milk margarine, tom brown and groundnut”.

Copied to the national CHASS president as well as the various metropolitan, municipal and district directors of the Ghana Education Service (GES), the statement continued “The mode of release of funds in hits and pieces for recurring expenditure and perishables make planning and management of the schools very difficult”.

It is the situation which has been described by stakeholders as worrying said “This has made most schools to be in huge debts of stationery, food items and Maintenance services”.

CHASS recommended that, all funds due the schools needed to be released immediately should be released for both perishables and recurring expenditure.

“This should be done before the re-opening of schools to help in the effective planning and management of the schools. Meanwhile, steps should be taken to make emergency release of funds for both the perishables and recurring before the end of the work, Friday 15th July, 2022.

Buffer Stock Company should ensure that the schools receive emergency supplies of foodstuff as listed above within three days. Whilst arrangements are put in place to ensure schools receives their food supplies two weeks before schools reopen”, the statement said.

The Conference also asked for the release of West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) practicals should be paid on time to ensure smooth preparations before examination.

GAR-CHASS commended all Heads for their resilience in handing the challenges that we face during this trying time and count on the usual support and counsel of our Regional Director.

Adding his voice to the issue, Dr. Apaak decried the continuous delay in providing these schools with the necessary food items.

The MP is demanding to know the basis for the delay and also whether government owes both the Buffer Stock Company and suppliers.

“Why are buffer stock food suppliers not making food available to the schools? Does government owe buffer stock food suppliers? If so, how much?

And why must government owe buffer stock food suppliers when GHC 2.3B was approved for fSHS for 2022? Something doesn’t add up!”

By the way, I’ve filed two urgent questions on buffer stock and its suppliers, let’s hope the Education Minister provides answers”.

Source: Anchorghana.com