The Ministry of Education has announced a planned review of the decentralized Senior High School (SHS) food supply programme following concerns over the quality and quantity of meals served to students.
Minister of Education, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, revealed the government’s intentions during a briefing with the Presidential Press Corps at the Presidency in Accra, stressing the importance of timely and nutritious food delivery to support the wellbeing of SHS students.
Originally introduced as part of the National Democratic Congress’ manifesto, the decentralized policy aimed to empower school administrators and local suppliers while stimulating local economies. However, recent reports suggest that the standards have fallen short of expectations at many schools.
In response, the government is considering scaling back the decentralization, particularly for non-perishable food items. According to Mr. Iddrisu, perishables will continue to be supplied by school authorities, while staples like grains could be managed by the Ghana Buffer Stock Company and the Ghana Commodity Exchange to ensure consistent supply and quality.
On the higher education front, the Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to its Access, Relevance, and Quality (ARC) policy framework, emphasizing efforts to expand university infrastructure in response to increased student admissions driven by the Free SHS initiative.
“We are actively encouraging public-private partnerships to expand accommodation and lecture facilities without compromising educational standards,” he noted. Mr. Iddrisu also disclosed that he has appealed to President Mahama to include the Ministry of Education and its agencies in the government’s flagship infrastructure development programme for rapid expansion.
Addressing the phased end of the double-track system in SHSs, the Ministry is piloting the integration of 50 to 60 private schools into the public placement system. These institutions will offer state-sponsored education, broadening access while easing pressure on public schools.
Funding remains a priority, with President Mahama directing the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to allocate nearly four billion Ghana cedis specifically to support the Free SHS programme’s sustainability.
The government’s renewed focus on food quality and infrastructure reflects a broader strategy to improve education delivery and address challenges that have accompanied the rapid expansion of free secondary education across Ghana.
