CHASS Threatens School Shutdown Over Free SHS Feeding Crisis
School heads warn of looming closures as funding delays cripple Free SHS feeding programme
- CHASS warns of possible school shutdown over feeding challenges
- Stakeholder meeting ends in deadlock despite ministerial intervention
- Food shortages and funding delays threaten over 1 million students nationwide
The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) has warned of a possible nationwide shutdown of secondary schools following a breakdown in negotiations over the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) feeding programme.
A high-level stakeholder meeting convened by the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, on April 17, 2026, ended without agreement, deepening concerns about food shortages in schools.
The meeting, held at the Ministry of Education, brought together key stakeholders, including CHASS, the National Food Buffer Stock Company, and the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), to address the growing food supply crisis.
At the centre of the dispute is the procurement of perishable food items such as meat, eggs, and vegetables, which have become increasingly scarce due to delays in funding.
Although the Education Minister proposed that GETFund should continue to allow CHASS to independently source perishable items, the parties failed to reach a consensus.
The impasse follows a formal petition submitted by CHASS and the Conference of Principals of Technical Institutions (COPTI), highlighting the mounting challenges faced by school heads.
Many headteachers are reportedly struggling to provide daily meals, with supplies from the National Food Buffer Stock Company dwindling and rising inflation stretching already limited budgets.
In some cases, school authorities have relied on personal funds or credit from local suppliers to keep feeding programmes running.
With negotiations now stalled, CHASS has escalated its concerns, warning that schools may be forced to send students home if urgent financial support is not provided.
Such a move could severely disrupt the academic calendar and affect preparations for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), placing over one million students at risk.
Stakeholders are expected to resume discussions in the coming days in an effort to reach a sustainable solution and stabilise the Free SHS feeding system.
