In his appearance before the Parliamentary Vetting Committee, Minister of Education designate Haruna Iddrisu outlined comprehensive policy reforms aimed at addressing food procurement challenges in schools.
Emphasizing efficiency, accountability, and sustainability, he proposed granting head teachers the autonomy to directly procure food items, reducing bureaucratic delays and ensuring consistent food supply for students.
Iddrisu highlighted the need for a decentralized approach, suggesting a direct transfer of funds to head teachers for purchasing food items and other essential supplies.
“The current centralized system has led to inefficiencies, including delays in food delivery and cash flow issues, which sometimes disrupt academic activities. By empowering head teachers to procure these items directly, we can ensure a more effective use of resources,” he said.
The nominee stressed that this shift would not only resolve recurrent food shortages but also mitigate challenges posed by delayed disbursement of funds from the Ministry of Finance.
He noted that inadequate funding often leads to interruptions in school operations, including shortages of perishable items, uniforms, and other essential supplies.
Haruna Iddrisu also underscored the importance of leveraging platforms like the Ghana Commodity Exchange to ensure fair pricing and quality procurement.
He suggested this could be a viable mechanism for purchasing bulk food items while avoiding market disruptions.
“As part of our broader education policy, we aim to provide stability to the academic calendar by ensuring that food shortages and related issues are a thing of the past.
This reform will generate wealth for local suppliers and enhance the management of schools,” Iddrisu stated.
He acknowledged potential risks, such as mismanagement of funds, and assured the committee that adequate oversight mechanisms would be established to ensure transparency and accountability.
The Ministry of Education, he added, would play a supervisory role, phasing out the centralized system in a manner that minimizes disruption.
Iddrisu concluded by reiterating his commitment to addressing systemic inefficiencies in the education sector.
He assured the committee that his policies would prioritize the welfare of students and foster a conducive learning environment.
The proposal, if implemented, is expected to significantly enhance the management of food supplies in schools and prevent the periodic crises that have plagued the sector.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
