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Zeqblog Blog of Friday, 10 January 2025
Source: Okine Isaac
According to the most recent Daily Graphic report, Angel Carbonu, President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), urged John Mahama that parents of senior high school students should pay for their children’s meals and lodging. He believes that the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy should be reassessed to ensure its long-term viability.
Mr. Carbonu stated in a radio interview with Okay FM on January 10, 2025, that while the Free SHS program has been good, Ghana’s present economic woes make it difficult to continue in its current form. He underlined that parents contributing to their children’s feeding and housing bills could help alleviate some of the problems.
This is not the first time a statement like this has been issued. The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) issued a similar declaration. They requested parents to help schools by supplying food for their children during food shortages. Mr. Carbonu stated that many pupils now rely on pocket money and supplies from home because the government-provided food is insufficient.
He criticized the government’s reliance on the National Food Buffer Stock Company for food supply, claiming that delays in food delivery to schools hamper operations. He further stated that headmasters are no longer permitted to purchase food directly, and cash provided to schools are sometimes delayed owing to bureaucratic processes.
To address these issues, Mr. Carbonu suggested sending pupils home temporarily while stakeholders discussed long-term solutions. He also urged the immediate nomination of a Minister of Education to spearhead these negotiations.
He believes that transparency and dialogue are required to ensure the Free SHS program’s long-term effectiveness and sustainability.
