Mark Dankyira Korankye, the Secretary-General of the Teachers and Educational Worker’s Union (TEWU) under the Trade Union Congress, has expressed worry about the quality of meals given to students under the Free Senior High School (SHS) program.
While he commends the Free SHS policy as one of the nation’s finest educational endeavors, he urges the government to detach politics from the policy and carry out an unbiased assessment.
During the 13th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of TEWU, Korankye emphasized the necessity of a comprehensive evaluation of the Free SHS program, particularly focusing on the nutritional value of the meals provided to students.
“This policy, after 7 years of implementation needs to be reviewed to make it even better. It cannot be business as usual,” he said.
Mr Korankye emphasised that there is a need to involve all relevant stakeholders in the provision of supplies and facilities, noting that inadequate food provisions have been reported in some schools.
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“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 implored policymakers to review the Free SHS policy and take steps to address the challenges.
“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 added.
