Improve student meals or risk losing grants – Haruna Iddrisu warns SHS heads

Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu

The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has issued a stern warning to Senior High School (SHS) heads nationwide, urging them to improve the quality of meals served to students or risk losing government feeding grants.

During a meeting with SHS heads, Iddrisu expressed concern about the poor quality of food being provided, citing complaints from both parents and students.

This warning comes amid increasing reports of substandard food quality and delays in meal services at SHSs.

The Minister emphasised the government’s dissatisfaction with the current situation, stressing the need for immediate improvements.

He made it clear that any neglect or misuse of the feeding program, designed to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds, will not be tolerated.

“We are not satisfied with the quality of the food that has been supplied, and we are not satisfied even with the timely distribution of the food,” he stated.

The decentralized feeding system, which allows school heads to procure food locally using government grants, is now under review.

Minister Iddrisu indicated that if this policy fails to deliver the intended efficiency and quality, it may be reversed.

“I will not hesitate to reverse that policy decision, even though it was a manifesto pledge, if that is what it takes to ensure that the right quality and quantity of food are provided,” he added.

In his address to the newly inaugurated Governing Council of the Ghana Education Service (GES), chaired by Professor Mawutor Avoke, Minister Iddrisu called for internal audits and rigorous monitoring of the feeding program.

He also encouraged unannounced visits to school dining halls to assess meal quality firsthand.

“Director-General, you and Professor Avoke should once in a while make unannounced visits to school dining halls to see for yourselves the quality of meals students are being fed,” he urged.

Beyond concerns about food quality, Haruna Iddrisu highlighted issues of rising indiscipline and insecurity in schools, citing recent incidents involving weapons on campuses.

He urged the GES Council to take proactive measures to maintain discipline and ensure the safety of students.

“You’ve heard the stories of gunshots in educational institutions. You’ve heard the stories of knives and other weapons being used on school campuses,” he emphasised.

“This is not Ghanaian. You have to take immediate and proactive steps to ensure safety in all our educational institutions,” he added.

Minister Iddrisu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing recommendations from the recent National Education Forum, aimed at enhancing the efficiency and quality of Ghana’s education sector.

“The trust reposed in us to support pre-tertiary education in this country is not one to take lightly,” Professor Avoke responded.

“As members of the GES Council, we are aware of the work ahead, including the implementation of education policies that will support quality outcomes.”

This warning serves as a strong message to SHS administrators to prioritise the welfare of students.