The Western Regional Minister Dr. Kobby Otchere Darkoh Mensah and the District Chief Executive for Ellembelle Kwasi Bonzoh on a tour of the Ellembelle District on Thursday took their turns to dine with the students of the Bonzoh Kaku Senior High School.
"We wanted to check the quality and kind of food served our students enjoying the Free Senior High School program. Like they say, he who feels it, knows it, so we had to taste it ourselves and know it". Mr.
Bonzoh said in a interview.
All students under the Free Senior High School are fed free of charge three times a day by the government. Whilst some critics doubted the government's financial strength for such move, others were those who questioned the quality of food served the students under the program.
"I am a fun of Rice and Beans stew you know, but what I enjoyed with the students is good honestly. Good nutrition for good quality education. I also asked of the quantities and the students said they were of good quantity to them. The school knew I was visiting, but they didn't know I was going to taste their dinning meal. As you saw, I finished the plate of food I requested". Western Regional Minister Dr. Otchere Darko Mensah stated.
Free SHS is a game changer
The minister stated on the Free SHS policy that the program has been a success, serving as a "game changer" in Ghana's secondary educational system.
He says the program which has seen some additional 181,000 students, who hitherto would have been left behind, enjoying free senior high school at no cost is the dream of progressive governments who have its country's future at heart.
"The 181,000 additional students population is bigger than the whole population of the Seychelles Island. Imagine the type of literate society we will have in this country after 10 years. Free SHS is the number one game changer for this country and its benefit will go a long way to help this country". Dr. Otchere Darko Mensah explained.
Residential accommodation for teachers will be provided soon
Meanwhile the District Chief Executive for Ellembelle Kwasi Bonzoh has assured the Headteacher of the Bonzoh Kaku SHS of working to deliver one pressing challenge confronting the school. The school with a boarding population of over 400 students has only four residential teachers in the school taking care of the students due to lack of accommodation for teachers.
" How do we expect only four teachers on campus to handle all these students? We will work at providing them residential facilities for teachers. This is an assurance we are giving them". Mr. Bonzoh assured.