Gov’t gives SHS heads greenlight to procure essential food items to feed students

Heads of Public Senior High Schools in Ghana have received approval from the Office of the President to procure essential food items for students for two weeks, from January 20 to February 3, 2025.

This directive, communicated through a letter from the Chief Director of the Ministry of Education, is an interim measure aimed at addressing challenges with the feeding situation in public secondary institutions.

To facilitate this initiative, funds have been disbursed to schools based on their student enrollment figures and the approved daily feeding rates. Boarding students will be fed at a rate of GHS 7.50 per day, while day students will receive meals at a rate of GHS 3.00 per day. Heads of schools are expected to use these funds to procure essential food items available within their localities to sustain students during this period.

For purely day schools, Heads are required to engage private caterers to provide hot meals for students at the approved rate. This arrangement ensures that all students, regardless of their boarding status, are adequately catered for during the two-week period.

Regional Directors have been tasked with ensuring that all Heads of public Senior High Schools, Senior High Technical Schools, and STEM institutions comply with relevant Public Procurement and Financial Management Regulations in executing this mandate. Public procurement guidelines have been provided to assist schools in adhering to proper procedures.