Eastern Region CHASS to close down schools by 15th July over food shortage

Food shortage in Senior High Schools is reaching its peak. Schools in the Northern region have warned they will close down if nothing is done soon, and the latest to complain and hint at shutting down over lack of food is the Eastern Region CHASS.

According to the Eastern Region Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), it will have no option but to close down schools in the region due to the shortage of basic food items to feed learners in various SHSs in the region.

READ: SHSs In Northern Region Likely To Shutdown Over Food Shortage

In its statement to announce the challenges it faces in feeding students, it said the region has suffered from food shortage for the past two weeks and that the weights of the food items they are lucky to have also been reduced.

 “Suppliers of food items for some time now have been supplying underweight items to the schools. An example is 100 kg of Maize has been reduced to 50 kg or 60 kg,” the group noted in a statement.

The Eastern Region CHASS added that schools are owing suppliers dues to the erratic release of funds meant for perishable food items to feed the students  

“Since 2021, funds meant for recurrent [expenses], have been released once. By extension, recurrent funds are in arrears since 2021 and 6 months into 2022,” the group explained.

Due to the above, the schools in the region are considering closure of schools should the government fail to take proactive steps to save the situation by 15^th July 2022.

The other options they have proposed is for parents to either feed their children on campus or pick them home. It said parents may be compelled to “either feed their wards or pick them home until all the situations are normalized.”

However, when the secondary school started to complain about the food shortages, the Education Ministry disclosed the challenge would be brought under control by July 12.

As of today, July 14^th, 2022, the schools are still complaining and more schools are beginning to also experience food shortages. Earlier news on the same challenge indicated that parents whose wards are in Mfantipim for instance are contributing between GHS250 and GHS500 to ensure their wards are fed well and the issue of food shortage in the school is curtailed.

While an ad hoc committee is currently in place at Parliament to investigate the cause of food shortage in secondary schools, the Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum engaged met the leadership of CHASS on Sunday, 10^th July on the SHSs food shortage challenge.

Find below the full statement