The Director General of the Ghana Education Service, Dr. Prof. Kwasi Opoku Amankwa has revealed that, both public and private final year Junior High School students are entitled to benefit from government’s one hot meal per day policy.
This hopes to end reports of some final year students going to schools in hunger.
It will be recalled that, President Akufo-Addo in his 15th address to the nation on measures taken to stem the spread of Covid-19 indicated that, the Gender, Children and Social Protection Ministry will effectively Monday, 24th August provide one hot meal per day to all final year JHS students and staff.
Speaking at a day workshop for selected media persons drawn from all regions held in the Eastern region, the Director General of GES indicated that, vendors for the one hot meal per day are directed to provide nutritious meals for the students and staff.
“A decision has been taken up that, there are already vendors who were providing food for the schools, so those vendors are now at home because of the Covid-19, those vendors will be providing food for the students. And so, they cluster the schools and give it to them [vendors]. The president charge is not only for public schools but private schools as well. The health people working with us, have advice that, every meal, everyday, there should be one egg on it”.
Dr. Prof. Amankwa added that, in order to ensure the one hot meal per day for the final year JHS students and staff takes effect successfully, the President has constituted a committee headed by the Chief of Staff with membership being the Director General of Ghana Health Service, Director General of Ghana Education Service and the Ghana School Feeding Program.
Members of committee according to Dr. Prof. Amankwa have been assigned to monitor at the regional levels in support with the regional and district directors of GES and the assemblies for the success implementation of the initiative.
Speaking on the reopening of schools, the Director General said the Minister of Education Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh inline with President Akufo-Addo directive, has constituted a committee to come out with proposals by the end of September 21st on measures to take for a possible reopening of the schools.
The day media engagement was on some latest updates of Secondary Education Improvement Project (SEIP).
Lawyer Anthony Boateng, Deputy Director General (Management Services) with GES speaking on some of the reforms announced that, effective the year 2022, the minimum qualification for teaching must be a First Degree holder.
Lawyer Boateng allayed the public fears of job losses saying that the GES and the Ministry of Education will work hand in hand for teachers with Diploma and certificates to be upgraded in conformity with the new reforms.
The decision, he said hopes to improve the quality of education in the country.
He expressed optimism saying “government has spend a lot of money in training teachers” and for that matter, all graduated teachers in the country will be recruited at an appropriate time.
Meanwhile, the Business Development Manager of BIC International Development, George Nkonsa on behalf of BIC, donated 100,000 BIC pens to GES to be distributed to the final year JHS students.
Source:|A1Radioonline.com|101.1MHZ|Joshua Asaah|Ghana
