Free SHS: We won’t feed students with Chinese rice – Government

Senior High Schools in the country will not be depending on imported food produce in feeding students under the free SHS policy, the Interior Minister Ambrose Derry has disclosed

According to him, all food products for the policy will be bought from farmers under the planting for food and jobs program.

He disclosed Friday when touring selected SHS schools to monitor progress of the Free SHS policy in the Upper West region.

“There is a buffer company that has been taken and what is going to happen is that we want the food that we give our students to be those that our farmers have produced,” he said.

“We are not going to feed our school children on Chinese rice or Korean rice,” he added.

The policy was officially launched by president, Akufo-Addo Tuesday, September 12, 2017. According to President Akufo-Addo, it has led to the enrollment of over 90,000 students who would have otherwise dropped out of school.

According to the President, the programe has led to the enrollment of over 90,000 students who would have otherwise dropped out of school.

Addressing the UN General Assembly Thursday, he said the program has made it possible for the less privileged Ghanaians to keep their wards in school.

“We’ve just started the free Senior High School programme which aims to guarantee secondary education to all of Ghana’s children. This programme will ensure that all our children will be educated to at least secondary level and money or the lack of it will no longer mean a denial of education.

“This has already led to an increase of over 90,000 children who have entered secondary school this academic year who otherwise would have dropped out at this stage.

“SDG 4which aims at ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all will be within our reach by the target date,” he said.