Hungry pupils in basic schools at Abankoro in the Ejisu Municipality of the Ashanti Region are no longer abandoning classes due to feeding constraints, as they are now assured of regular meals at school.

This follows the innovative efforts of a 38-year-old Class 3 teacher at Abankoro M/A Basic School, who has created a food bank from her meagre resources to feed pupils in the farming community.

Abigail Boakye, who also distributes school uniforms to needy pupils in the area, has earned the praise of education authorities.

Abankoro M/A Primary and JHS have for some time been battling a growing number of pupil absences.

Authorities at the Ejisu Municipal Education Directorate say many pupils stayed away from school because their parents were unable to feed them.

However, through the intervention of the teacher, who established a food bank in the school, pupil retention is no longer a major concern for teachers.

At least 325 pupils and their teachers in the local primary and junior high schools are now regularly provided with breakfast.

Abigail Boakye also supplies basic necessities such as food, school uniforms, shoes and socks to pupils who lack them.

“Coming here, I realised that learners were not attending school as expected, so I set out to find the main reason. Enrolment was very low. Through my investigation, I realised that learners did not have their basic needs met.

You can also see that hunger is a major hindrance to learning. If a child is hungry, that child cannot concentrate in class. That is what led to absenteeism and low attendance,” Abigail Boakye told Joy News.

The Headmistress of Abankoro M/A Junior High School, Joyce Kusi Mensah, said the gesture by Madam Boakye has helped improve academic performance, as pupil retention has increased.

According to her, pupils who come to school on an empty stomach are now assured of a meal.

“The children need support like this. When they get food like this, they are encouraged to come to school. One way or the other, it motivates them and helps the school to increase enrolment,” she said.

The School Improvement Support Officer for the area, Dominic Kwadwo Adu, told Joy News that the era when pupils stayed at home due to their parents’ inability to provide money for food is over.

He praised Madam Abigail Boakye, describing her as an exceptional teacher.

“It is a very good programme to support children, especially those who do not have money during break time. This programme helps them and, at the same time, enables them to learn,” he said.

The Ejisu Municipal Education Director, Kwabena Owusu, said he first noticed Madam Boakye’s dedication when she previously taught at Ejisu Model School, where she supported needy pupils with basic necessities such as uniforms, shoes and socks.

Abigail Boakye later extended this initiative to Abankoro M/A Basic School when she was transferred there two years ago.

Mr Owusu said Abigail’s contributions not only promote teaching and learning but also inspire leadership among teachers.

“Most of the time, parents are not able to feed their children well. When they come to school, it becomes very difficult to teach them,” he said.

“I appreciate what she has done at Abankoro. When children are not well fed, teaching becomes difficult. What she has been doing is very helpful.”

Madam Abigail Boakye was crowned the Best Differentiated Learning Teacher at the 2025 National Teachers Awards.