Free SHS: Increase GH¢1 feeding grant per student – GNAT to Mahama

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has urged the incoming John Dramani Mahama administration to increase the GH¢1 feeding grant per child allocation to school caterers, describing the amount as inadequate to meet students’ nutritional needs.

GNAT’s General Secretary, Thomas Musah, expressed concerns that the insufficient funding undermines the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme.

He also called for the establishment of dedicated funding for pre-tertiary education to address catering challenges and enhance the quality of education nationwide.

“The current arrangement is that you are feeding a child around GH¢1.20, but go to Makola or go to the Agbogbloshie market and find out what GH¢1.20 can buy.

“The essence of the school feeding programme was that we give students a hot meal at least once a day. But if you look at the quality of food that the children are eating today, you don’t need a prophet to tell you where we are heading towards.”