The Executive Director of Eduwatch Africa, Kofi Asare, says the government spends 70 percent of its budget allocated for Free SHS on feeding.
According to him, about 1.3 to 1.4 billion is spent a year on feeding Free SHS students. This, in his view, contributes to the reasons for the current food supply challenges facing the schools.
“Out of the 2.3bn, 70 percent is just feeding, there are other aspects of the bill – uniforms, school cloth, exercise books etc feeding alone is about 70 percent,” he reiterated.
Speaking in an interview on JoyNews' Newsfile on Saturday, he stated that the huge amount used for feeding has resulted in liquidity difficulties.
“While funds delay can be managed, those affecting feeding can hardly be managed because the children are in boarding houses. So the delay in funding has caused suppliers who say their funds have been locked up, some being owed as far back as September last year,” he added.
Kofi Asare therefore suggested that parents of students from private junior high schools could be allowed to pay for their wards’ fees to save government some money to support the feeding challenges currently experienced.
“If we ask parents of private junior high school students to pay their free senior high school fees, the average free senior high school fee government is paying is GHC1,500 for a whole year, so if we have these parents who came from the private sector to pay their GHC1,500 for a whole year as Free SHS school fees, what will happen is that government will save GHC520m to support what we are now struggling to finance,” he stressed.
He also proposed for government to explore cost optimization, adding that “we can reduce certain costs and still maintain the value of the policy (Free SHS) to ensure that the poor, marginalized and vulnerable are not denied of secondary education on the basis of fees,”
Latest Stories
-
GAF advocates for more women to be enlisted into the military
7 mins -
Fifa faces legal threat over congested calendar
9 mins -
Nobody will continue your legacy; not even Bawumia – Akufo-Addo told
18 mins -
Corruption Fight: Blockchain technology to make government data tamper-proof – Dr Bawumian hints
21 mins -
Chancellor’s Cup: KNUST play AAMUSTED in a soccer match to honour Asantehene
22 mins -
Anti-LGBTQ+ bill: AG’s request for live telecast of proceedings is in the right direction – Kweku Paintsil
29 mins -
My ex-husband stole my identity and almost had me behind bars
38 mins -
Today’s front pages: Friday, May 10, 2024
60 mins -
Akufo-Addo nominates Joyce Agyeiwaa as Birem Central DCE
1 hour -
More businesses will cease operation in Ghana if government doesn’t address concerns – GNCCI
1 hour -
Exit of international COYs from Ghana not surprising- GNCCI CEO
1 hour -
Kofi Adu Domfeh writes: Amidst the heatwaves arrive the rainstorm and floods
1 hour -
You can’t plan for more than one day. What system is this? – Frustrated Ken Thompson lashes out at government
1 hour -
Let’s guard our peace and cohesion – Weta chief advises politicians
2 hours -
TikTokers charged over police station robbery prank
2 hours