Yesterday, Myjoyonline published a story about Binduri Community Day Senior High School in the Upper East Region that had been shut down, following protests by the students over lack of food. On Tuesday, July 11, 2023, some agitated students boycotted classes to protest and express their displeasure with the inability of the school’s administration to provide them with one hot meal daily for some time now.
Sources within the school told Graphic Online that since May 29, 2023, the Caterer stationed in the school had not been able to cook for the students, leaving them to their fate.
The Caterer is said to have abandoned her duty in the school, citing non-payment of arrears owed her by the government, a development which has virtually made it impossible for her to continue to cook for the students.
As a result, some of the students abandoned classes with the reason that they could not study on empty stomachs. With a total of about 600 students in the school, only 200 were regular in class due to the situation.
In this modern world, education is considered to be a fundamental right for every child. The Chronicle, therefore, finds it disheartening that some schools are forced to close down due to lack of food. The effects of such a shutdown go a long way to disrupt the education of the students.
The most obvious consequence of a school shutdown is the immediate loss of class periods for the children. Education is not only a means of acquiring knowledge, but it also lays the foundation for a better future.
Without a strong basic education, a whole generation is left without the tools to escape the cycle of poverty, hindering their chances of finding gainful employment and achieving their full potential.
A school closure due to lack of food exacerbates the already existing issue of food insecurity in Ghana. For many children, the school provides their primary source of nutrition, through school meals programmes.
These meals ensure that students receive, at least, one nutritious meal per day, acting as a safety net to combat malnutrition and encourage school enrolment. Consequently, the closure of a school deprives them of this vital support.
The absence of nutritious meals, not only has direct implications on children’s development, but also puts their overall health at risk. Malnutrition weakens the immune system, making children more susceptible to illnesses and diseases.
The closure of a school contributes to a decline in the general health and well-being of young individuals, which can have long-term implications on their overall growth and future prospects.
Investment in education is crucial for a community’s economic growth and prosperity. By shutting down the school, the overall productivity of the community is hampered, as a well-educated population is essential for a thriving economy. The effects of a school shutdown due to a lack of food are detrimental and demand immediate attention.
It is for this reason that The Chronicle calls on the government, non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other stakeholders to come together to address this pressing issue. Efforts should be made to secure sustainable food sources for school meal programmes to ensure that all children, regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds, do not go hungry.
Additionally, targeted interventions, such as community-based agricultural projects or partnerships with local farmers, such as the Buffer Stock Company arrangement, can help foster food security and boost economic growth.
