The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) has expressed dissatisfaction with recent comments by Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, who criticised the quality of meals provided in senior high schools across the country.

In his remarks, the Minister described the meals as “poor quality” and suggested the government may reconsider its decision to allow school heads to directly procure food—a major feature of the NDC’s current education policy.

This policy, introduced as part of efforts to decentralize school feeding and improve outcomes, empowers headteachers and bursars to source food locally. However, CHASS believes the Minister’s critique is not grounded in current feedback.

Reacting to the comments, CHASS National Secretary Primus Baro said the union was neither consulted nor formally notified about such concerns.

“We have not received any formal reports suggesting that schools are serving poor-quality food. The feedback we’ve received rather indicates improvement since headteachers began procuring food themselves,” he told Citi News on Monday, May 5.

Baro explained that CHASS is not opposed to a return to centralised food procurement but emphasised that the current decentralised system was introduced to address persistent challenges, including supply delays and inconsistency under the old model.

“We’re open to whatever decision government takes but expect that, if centralised procurement returns, food is delivered on time and in the right quantities.”

He further cautioned against using the media to raise concerns about food quality, stressing the importance of resolving such matters internally to avoid public misunderstanding.

On the issue of funding, Baro admitted that recent administrative adjustments had caused delays in disbursements. However, he noted that while some funds had been released, arrears were still pending.