The National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (NCPTAs) has called for the closure of senior high schools (SHS) until the government resolves ongoing feeding and funding challenges.
Speaking to Daily Graphic, NCPTAs General Secretary Raphael Kofi Gapson stated that the reopening of schools on January 3, 2025, had exposed severe logistical and financial constraints, leaving schools unable to function effectively.
Schools Struggling to Feed Students
Gapson criticized the lack of adequate feeding support for boarders, accusing the previous government of neglecting its responsibilities under the free SHS policy. He claimed schools receive only a fraction of the required resources.
“For schools that need 100 grammes of food daily, they are getting 30 grammes. How can they operate effectively under such conditions?” he questioned.
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Parents have stepped in to bridge the gap, using PTA funds to pay for additional cooks, security personnel, and other operational needs.
CHASS Warned of Unprepared Reopening
The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) had earlier urged the Ghana Education Service to postpone reopening until the government settled arrears for food and operational costs.
In a December 31, 2024, statement, CHASS noted repeated appeals for payments since August 2024 were ignored, leaving schools unable to procure perishables and transport food supplies.
Stakeholders Demand Urgent Action
The NCPTAs called for key stakeholders to meet and resolve the crisis, suggesting schools be temporarily closed to create a conducive environment for effective teaching and learning.
Gapson stressed, “We prefer our students being at home and properly fed rather than in schools struggling to survive under dire conditions.”
He also highlighted unpaid capitation grants at the basic school level for over two years as further evidence of neglect in the education sector.
The NCPTAs urged the new government to prioritize the crisis and find sustainable solutions to restore stability in schools.
