Free SHS: CHASS advises parents to allow their children to bring meals to school.

Parents and guardians have been asked to help with senior high school nutrition issues by the Conference of Heads of Assisted Senior High Schools (CHASS).
Citing outstanding financial concerns, such as the government’s failure to pay for the perishable meals that pupils received last year, CHASS had previously urged the Ghana Education Service (GES) to reevaluate the reopening of high schools. But this appeal was denied by the GES.

Primus Baro, the National Secretary of CHASS, told JoyNews that the situation in high schools is terrible and that many institutions are forced to ration food five days after classes resumed.
In order to supplement the government’s provision, he urged parents to provide their kids with food items to use at school.

“In order to augment whatever the school gives, I encourage parents—and I have already given my PTA advice to that effect—to allow their kids to bring food like gari, shitor, and sugar. The food situation has gotten worse at this time and hasn’t improved in the last two or three years, therefore I’m urging parents nationwide,” he stated on JoyNews’ Newsdesk on Wednesday, January 8.
According to him, the situation is especially bad in Ghana’s northern schools.

“Schools are not receiving food supplies. Other than rice, schools in areas like the Upper West, Upper East, and Northern regions lack reliable food sources. There is no oil at all. For instance, my matron has been substituting margarine for oil while cooking because there isn’t even a drop of oil at my school right now. I have rice and some gari, but neither corn nor beans,” he said.
“The only reason we allowed the students to return was because we are still using the outdated methods of sending students with what they have,” he emphasised. Other than that, things are still far from perfect.

The Free Senior High School (SHS) program, which was started by the previous government led by Nana Akufo-Addo, has had several difficulties over the years, such as inadequate food, poor classroom and dormitory facilities, and more.
Additionally, some claim that while the program has increased the number of SHS graduates, the quality of education has not necessarily improved.

But before winning the election, John Mahama, the incoming president, pledged to revitalise the program rather than end it.