79 schools in limbo over feeding fees

About 79 second cycle institutions in the three regions in the North risk closure if government fails to defray the accumulated debt associated with the Capitation Grant.

Reports indicate that food suppliers of the affected schools have withdrawn their services and waiting for government’s response.

The Coalition of Parent Teacher Associations of second cycle institutions in the three regions has indicated that it will embark on a series of demonstrations over the development.

At a news conference, the Tamale Metropolitan Secretary of the Coalition, Woadrago Isaac said the food suppliers had abandoned the schools due to government’s indebtedness.

According to Woadrago, government has only paid 50 percent of the feeding grant debt for the third term of the 2013/14 academic season.

This, according to him, forced the food suppliers to withdraw their services.

He noted that the regional network of parent teacher association, with support from Tampata a local PTA network and the centre for active learning and integrated learning, conducted an investigation.

“Senior High School heads are barely managing to feed students and may not be able to do so for the rest of the term if the grants are not forthcoming,” it revealed.

The suppliers are no longer willing to advance foodstuffs on credit to the schools concerned or may do so at a higher cost.

Mr. Woadrago maintained that no amount of persuasion will stop the planned demonstrations unless government defrays the debt.