|
Irregular funding affecting School Feeding Programme
Tamale, Feb.16, Ghanadot/GNA- Results
from monitoring by the SEND Foundation indicates that the
irregular funding of the School Feeding Programme was
affecting the frequency of feeding in schools in some
districts of the Northern Region.
Mr. Issahaku Ibrahim, Focal Person for the School for Life (SFL)
an educational NGO, who disclosed this at an interface
meeting organised by the SEND Foundation in collaboration
with the Regional Economic Planning Unit (REPU), said the
affected schools were in the Tamale Metropolis, Tolon/Kumbungu,
Saboba, Bole and Gushiegu Districts.
Other participants at the meeting included representatives
from the Ghana Education Service, Ministry of Health,
Ministry of Food and Agriculture, District Assemblies and
NGOs such as Alternative Initiative for Development and
Tiyumba Development Association.
The meeting provided a platform for discussion on how to
develop strategies to address the lapses in the programme
and consolidate its gains.
Mr. Ibrahim noted that, although the feeding programme had
increased
school enrolment and retention and also reduced absenteeism
in schools the irregular funding of the programme had
hampered its progress.
He mentioned for instance, that funds for schools in Yendi
and Tolon/Kumbungu Districts for the third term were
disbursed in October 2007 even though the academic year
started in September 2007.
Mr. Ibrahim noted that funds disbursed for the feeding
programme were still based on enrolment figures at the
beginning of the programme and mentioned Nadundu primary in
the Yendi District where funds were provided for two hundred
pupils while the enrolment figure as at now was well over
three hundred pupils.
He noted that another factor affecting the programme was
inadequate information flow from the national level and said
this had resulted in the transfer of funds without prior
notice while in some cases funds were transferred into the
district assembly common fund instead of the account of the
school feeding programme.
He said community involvement in the programme was also very
low and suggested that the communities be sensitised on the
programme to know what
it sought to achieve using the most effective medium.
Mr. Ibrahim said although the programme had the potential of
providing employment within the local economy some kitchen
staff in the schools had not been paid for about eight
months and as a result some schools were using part
of the funds for paying allowances of the cooks.
He therefore urged district assemblies to clarify the
remuneration of the kitchen staff and take steps to
regularise the situation to enhance the commitment of the
staff.
GNA
|
