Mark Dankyira Korankye, Secretary-General of the Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU) of the Trade Union Congress, has expressed worry over the quality of meals supplied to children under the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy.
Despite recognizing the policy as one of the country’s greatest education efforts, he asked the government to depoliticize it and conduct an open evaluation.
Speaking during the 13th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of TEWU, he emphasised the significance of completing a comprehensive examination of the Free SHS policy, particularly in terms of the quality of meals given to pupils.
“This policy, after 7 years of implementation needs to be reviewed to make it even better. It cannot be business as usual,” he said.
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Mr Korankye underlined the need of involving all essential parties in the provision of supplies and facilities, citing reports of poor food availability in some schools.
“Sometimes in some of the institutions you will hear L cube. That is to say that breakfast is liquid, lunch is liquid and supper is liquid. So L in the morning, L in the afternoon and L in the evening.
“Whereas we know that normally we would take a light breakfast, some heavy lunch and some in the evening. And if students are forced to do L cube, how would they have the energy to even learn.”
The TEWU Secretary-General urged policymakers to evaluate the Free SHS program and take action to address the concerns.
“This is not the politicians review that I am talking about. I am talking about the education sector. A review from a union that is within the education sector and knows what is going on in the sector.
“Let us review it, take off those ones that have challenges, and maintain the ones that are best for our people so that our children will have the full benefit of the policy,” he went on to say.
