Transfer of Feeding to Parents Undermines Core Intent of Free SHS- Child Rights International

Child Rights International has taken a stance against the call for parents to provide support in the feeding of their wards in various senior High Schools (SHS) by the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) under the Free SHS policy.

According to the Civil Society Organisation, shifting these responsibilities to parents not only deviates from the policy’s framework but also places undue pressure on families, many of whom are already facing economic hardship.

“The Free SHS programme was established to ensure free and equitable access to secondary education, removing financial barriers and promoting inclusivity. Any effort to transfer responsibilities such as feeding to parents undermines the core intent of the policy and creates inequities it was designed to address,” it said in a statement.

It posited that challenges with logistics in its implementation must be forwarded directly to the government to secure the necessary resources.

“The responsibility for addressing such challenges lies squarely with the implementing authorities,” it noted.

Amendment
It is of the view that individuals or institutions have no right to impose their will to alter the framework of a social policy when the government had not made any review.

It noted that there has so far been no official directive requiring parental contributions to support the policy’s implementation.

It held the view that, “Any changes to the policy must come through formal review and clear communication from the government. Until such amendments are made, stakeholders are urged to adhere to the policy in its current form.”

Negligence
Meanwhile, it affirmed that the policy should not put children in situations where they suffer due to negligence or systemic flaws.

“Every decision must prioritise the best interests of the child. Under no circumstances should children be impacted by the lack of food or any other basic necessity. It is our duty to ensure that children fully benefit from policies designed to support them, such as the Free SHS programme.”

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini