Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has proposed a new measure to enhance the Free SHS program’s feeding component, aiming to improve transparency and accountability in the provision of meals to students.
Speaking to church leaders in Accra, Dr. Bawumia suggested involving parents through Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) to ensure students receive proper nourishment and to prevent food theft by kitchen staff. This move is expected to strengthen the program’s effectiveness and build trust among parents and guardians.
The proposal, to be presented to Cabinet for consideration, aims to engage parents in monitoring the feeding program and tracking what their children are served. By doing so, parents will be empowered to hold school authorities accountable for the quality and quantity of food provided. Dr. Bawumia emphasized the need for transparency, stating, “We should bring the PTA to observe and they therefore will know that the headmasters and the matrons will know, that the parents know because as it is now, if they get five bags, they may declare one bag if nobody is looking and so this is a brilliant and realistic suggestion.”
The Free SHS policy, introduced by the NPP, aims to remove cost as a barrier to education, providing a three-year scholarship for secondary education to all Ghanaian children who meet the required pass mark. By involving parents in the feeding program, the government hopes to further enhance the policy’s impact and ensure that students receive the necessary support to succeed in their academic pursuits.
