The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) has urged management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) and stakeholders to address challenges associated with performance of the Buffer Stock Company to regularly supply food to Senior High Schools in the country.

In a communique jointly signed by Alhaji Yakub A. B. Abubakar, the President of CHASS and his Secretary General, Mr Kwame Owusu Aduomi, CHASS noted that delay in food supply to schools is affecting the running of Senior High Schools in the country as students sometimes had to stay home for lack of food.

CHASS emphasized that the poor, unreliable and erratic supply of food stuff to schools from the Buffer Stock Company is having dire consequences, and thus called on authorities to fix it, saying “Indeed it must be relooked at and addressed.”

The communique also called on the Ministry of Education (MoE), the GES and allies to review the prices of food stuff supplied to schools. CHASS also bemoaned the situation where foodstuffs are undersupplied to schools, thereby putting undue pressure on school heads to manage scanty supplies.

“Avoid the situation whereby Buffer Stock Suppliers offloaded the burden of low buffer stock prices vis a vis the prevailing market prices onto the school, by way of underweight of items by suppliers or negotiated undersupplied food items.”
CHASS

The Heads of Assisted Schools charged the Buffer Stock Company to stop requesting schools to move to Regional capitals to cart food items. That, they claimed comes with extra cost on the already financially burdened schools.

CHASS noted that the timely and adequate release of funds, especially to schools before their reopening date is crucial to curbing the stress associated with running without funds and logistics.

CHASS also advocated for an upward adjustment of examination fee from the current GH¢10.00 to GH¢ 30.00. This, it noted, has through several memos and letters to the GES management, justified its request.

“Additionally, the cost of WASSCE practical examination should be comprehensively discussed by GES management and CHASS.”
CHASS

CHASS noted with grave concerns, the delay in releasing funds to schools for the National Science and Maths Quiz competitions (NSMQ). According to CHASS, the delay impedes academic progress and distorts the preparation process.

“These monies are unduly delayed and schools are forced to pre-finance this activity.”
CHASS

CHASS iterated the need to have a reliable and long term academic calendar for both Single and Double Track Schools to ensure effective planning by schools.

Another concern raised by CHASS was under-staffing. The Heads expressed concern about under-staffing across the various schools, and urged the GES to fast track the replacement of staff who had retired, especially the non-teaching staff with the involvement of Heads in the process.

In finality, CHASS called on the government to continue to boost the educational system in Ghana by providing the needed infrastructure and logistics. It also urged the teachers to work to imbibe a sense of discipline and patriotism into the students for sustained development.