Chairman of the Education Committee in Parliament, William Agyapong Quaitoo has explained that Heads of Senior High Schools in the country have no right to say they have no food for their students when schools resume.
This he said is because the Buffer Stock company has been tasked to ensure adequate food is made available for the students.
Mr. Agyapong Quaittoo explained the Buffer Stock company has been charged to supply adequate food stuff for all SHSs, as a result, heads of the various schools have not right to conclude they have no food for the students.
Heads of Senior High Schools in the country are pushing for the postponement of the reopening date for the 2019/2020 academic year due to delays in the disbursement of funds to the Schools.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has fixed September 6, 2019, for the beginning of the 2019/2020 Academic year.
But heads of Senior High Schools say they lack funds and food to feed the students.
Reacting to the issue on Onua FM’s Yen Sempa hosted by Bright Kwasi Asempa on Tuesday, the Member of Parliament for Akim Oda said “it is wrong for the headmasters to say they can’t get food for the students.”
“Buffer Stock company provides the food. They have given their suppliers to supply. Buffer Stock is up to the task. That I am aware of.”
Mr. Agyapong Quaittoo said if the heads are talking about the 20% of the fund that is meant for the schools’ running, that is in order, but the issue of food should not be in contention.
“If the 20% has not gone, fine, but I am sure it will go,” he stressed.
Why 20% fund delay?
He said the Committee is not aware the funds have not been released.
“We are not aware the money has not been released so they can write to Parliament to question why the monies have not been paid.”
The MP promised that “we are meeting the Education Ministry from today to Saturday…we shall ask the Minister about it.”
The Ranking Member for the Committee who is also MP for Akatsi North Peter Nortsu-Kotoe said “it’s been in arrears”.
“The 20% of funds that are given to the schools are still in arrears from 2018/2019. If they are still in arrears for 2019/2020, how are they going to run?,” he quizzed.
By Kweku Antwi-Otoo|3news.com|Ghana