The continuous increase in prices of food items across the country has had a grave impact on livelihoods.
Bemoaning the harsh economic difficulties, the Conference of Principals of the Colleges (PRINCOF) has asserted that they are unable to feed teacher trainees across the country.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, requested to allow students to feed themselves starting from November 7, 2022.
In a press statement signed by the Executive Secretary of PRINCOF, Dr Harriet Naki Amui, said, “Principals of Colleges of Education have been trying really very hard to feed trainee teachers in recent times as a result of current market trends.”
“Prices of food items have shot up astronomically, and food suppliers have refused to supply any food items to colleges because of the indebtedness to these suppliers.”
In Ghana, there are about 40 colleges of education and each student is being provided with three square meals a day at a cost of GHS6.50 by the government.
The fund provided by the government, according to Dr Naki Amui, is insufficient to provide these students with three meals a day.
She mentioned that her outfit, on numerous occasions, asked the government to increase feeding grants to the schools, but the request has not yet been approved.
In response, the Ministry of Education has indicated that it is working assiduously to resolve all outstanding financial obligations.
In a Facebook post, the Public Relations Officer of the Education Ministry, Kwesi Kwarteng, mentioned that the ministry has already begun discussions with the Finance Ministry to release funds to help fend for trainee teachers.
“MoE is aware of the urgency of the situation and is working with the Ministry of Finance to swiftly resolve all outstanding obligations/commitments to the Colleges of Education. The public is further assured of our commitment to address disruptions within the food supply chain ahead of the November 7th ultimatum,” he said.
Source: The Independent Ghana