Teacher trainees to receive one meal daily starting June 16

Teacher trainees in public Colleges of Education will now receive only one hot meal a day, starting Monday, June 16, 2025. This new directive was announced by the Conference of Principals of Colleges of Education (PRINCOF), who cited financial challenges as the reason for the change.

In a statement issued on Monday, PRINCOF explained that colleges can no longer afford to provide three meals daily under the current funding structure. “While we acknowledge the importance of adequate nutrition to trainee welfare and academic performance, we must also ensure that feeding arrangements are realistic and within the financial capacity of our institutions,” the statement read.

Each teacher trainee currently receives a GH¢400 monthly feeding grant from the government. Of this amount, GH¢196 which equals GH¢8.00 per day is set aside specifically for meals. This arrangement was agreed upon between PRINCOF and the Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana (TTAG).

However, after consulting all 47 public Colleges of Education, PRINCOF concluded that rising food prices and increased logistics costs have made the three-meals-a-day model unsustainable. The statement noted that even after repeated appeals over the years, efforts to raise the daily feeding rate have not been successful.

“After extensive consultations across all 47 public Colleges of Education, PRINCOF has concluded that it is no longer viable to continue providing three meals a day on the current GH¢8.00 daily allocation,” the release stated.

PRINCOF stressed that the decision was not made lightly. The change, they said, is intended to protect essential services and ensure the long-term sustainability of the colleges.

They also expressed appreciation for TTAG’s continued cooperation and thanked the government for maintaining the monthly feeding grant. The statement reaffirmed PRINCOF’s commitment to working closely with TTAG, the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), and other stakeholders to address trainee welfare challenges.

“We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we implement this adjustment in the best interest of the colleges and the trainees we serve,” PRINCOF concluded.