SHS in UE face feeding crisis (Sunday, March 18, 2012)

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga Some Senior High Schools in the Upper East Region may be forced to shut down and students sent home following delay in the release of feeding grants by government. According to the regional leadership of the Conference of Heads of Government Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), if by the close of Monday, March 19, 2012 no response is heard of their appeal through the Regional Education Directorate and the Regional Coordinating Council, the schools will have no option than to close down. The situation has become precarious in the face of the hesitance of food suppliers to further release food items to the schools due to a pile up of debts. Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Regional Chairman of CHASS, Mr. Patrick Tangoyire said there is a need for government to find a lasting solution to the annual crisis of perennial delay in the payment of feeding grants to schools in the three Northern regions to avoid disruption of the school calendar and curricula. Mr. Tangoyire said the regional CHASS is working in close consultation with other branches in teh Northern and Upper West Regions, adding that if by the close of Monday, no favourable response is held, the only option is to temporally suspend academic work and send the students home The issue of delay in the release of feeding grants and the related the feeding crisis in the schools in the region has been an annual occurrence with its attendant effect of closure of school and postponement of reopening of schools. The situation also affects the performance of students as they lack the concentration in class. -End-