SHS Heads Warned: Improve food quality or risk losing feeding grants- Haruna Iddrisu

Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister for Education, has warned  heads of senior high schools(SHS) that the government is ready to do away with the decentralised feeding policy if students continue to receive poor-quality meals.

He issued the warning in the course of the inauguration of the new Governing Council of the Ghana Education Service (GES) on Friday, May 2, 2025.

Mr Haruna Iddrisu raised concerns over reports of low-quality food and distribution delays, saying the feeding arrangement needs to balance cost and nutritional quality. He said that “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.”

“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 quantities of food are provided.”

The decentralised food distribution system allows heads of schools to get direct funding to buy food locally, replacing the previous centralised model where the National Food Buffer Stock Company provided meals to schools across the country.

Mr Iddrisu entrusted the GES Council, chaired by Professor Mawutor Avoke, to keep a close eye on the policy. Mr Iddrisu also urged school authorities to carry out regular internal assessments and encouraged impromptu evaluations by national officers.

He stated that “I expect that internal audits in the schools, together with national reviews, will help track what food is being served. Director-General, you and Professor Avoke should periodically make unannounced visits to school dining halls to see for yourselves the quality of meals students are being fed.”

Apart from food provision, the minister expressed concerns about expanding insecurity and unruly behaviour in senior high schools. He pointed to recent violent incidents; for which he spoke about a shooting at Kumasi SDA SHS, leaving a student critically injured.

Haruna Iddrisu said that “You’ve heard the stories of gunshots in an educational institution. You’ve heard the stories of knives and other weapons being used on school campuses.”

“This is not Ghanaian. You have to deal with it immediately to ensure safety in all our educational institutions.”

As a response, Professor Avoke assured that the GES Council would take on the responsibility. He said the Council is aware of the issues and would work to promote discipline in school management and student welfare.

Professor Mawutor Avoke stated that “The trust reposed in us to support pre-tertiary education in this country is not one to take lightly. As members of the GES Council, we are aware of the work ahead, including the implementation of education policies that will support quality outcomes.”

Mr Haruna Iddrisu also stated that the proposal from the recent National Education Forum would be implemented. He said they would be followed through as part of the government’s broader aim to improve the education sector.

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