Give children enough food for school – CHASS

The Conference of Heads of Assisted Senior High Schools (CHASS) has called on parents to provide their children with enough food provisions as they return to school.

This request comes in light of the ongoing feeding challenges in Senior High Schools (SHSs) across the country.

CHASS has previously appealed to the Ministry of Education for the timely disbursement of pending funds to ensure the smooth operation of SHSs.

The conference warned that any unresolved financial shortfalls could disrupt academic activities and negatively impact student welfare.

In a communiqué signed by CHASS National Secretary Primus Baro, the financial struggles faced by the schools were highlighted.

Despite earlier discussions and verbal assurances from the Minister of Education during a Zoom meeting on December 18, 2024, CHASS urged the ministry to extend the reopening date of January 3, 2025, to allow more time for resolving issues.

Primus Baro spoke during an interview on January 8, 2025, explaining that the situation had worsened and the help of parents was urgently needed.

He stressed that food supplies were not reaching the schools, especially in regions such as Upper West, Upper East, and Northern regions, where only rice was available, and essential supplies like oil were completely missing.

Baro emphasised that parents should ensure their children bring food like gari, shito, and sugar to supplement what the schools are able to provide. He also shared his own experience, revealing that in his school, the matron had to use margarine in place of oil due to the lack of supplies.

“We are still relying on the old practices of sending students with what they have, and that’s the only reason we allowed the students to return. Otherwise, the situation is still far from ideal,” Baro concluded.