By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
Parents and guardians of beneficiary pupils of the School Feeding Programme in parts of the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area in the Ashanti region now have to contend with finding alternative means of feeding their wards, at least until caterers of the Programme rescind their industrial action.
A visit by Radio Ghana to selected schools confirmed that the caterers have refused to return to post to feed the pupils since the current academic term began in early April.
At the New Asafo M/A Basic School at Asokwa in the Asokwa Municipality in the Ashanti region, one of the beneficiary schools of the School Feeding Programme, the pupils were in class with their teachers going about their lessons without let or hindrance at the time of the visit since it was not time for their normal lunch break.
However, a teacher who spoke to Radio on condition of anonymity revealed that since school reopened, the children have not been fed from the Programme since the caterers have refused to return to post.
When contacted for the Municipal directorate’s side of the issue, the Municipal Director of Education, Mr. Ebenezer Oteng, though he would not speak on record, almost confirmed the revelation by the anonymous teacher.
He said the Municipality has 19 public schools, out of which 18 are beneficiaries of the School Feeding Programme but would not give out any further information about the lack of meals for the children.
At the T. I. Ahmadiyya Basic ‘D’ in the Subin Sub Metro in the Kumasi Metropolis, it was learnt that 322 pupils from Class One to Class Six are supposed to eat from the School Feeding Programme.
However, it was learnt that they have not been fed since school reopened for the current term.
The Head Teacher, Mr. Amos Kwaning, noted that, even though meals from the Programme are meant to complement what parents and guardians of the children provide them, the parents now have to cater entirely for the lunch of their wards as a result of the unavailability of the caterers to serve the children.
Asked whether or not the challenge has had any impact on school enrolment and attendance, Mr. Kwaning responded in the negative.
Caterers of the School Feeding Programme have been complaining for some weeks now about the Secretariat’s failure to regularly reimburse them for the meals served to children under their care after they pre-financed the catering services during the previous terms.
They have again been complaining about the 97 Pesewas as the cost of the meals per child per day being woefully insufficient and thus asking government to increase the money per child per day to at least, three Ghana Cedis to enable them to remain in business.