Education

UWR/Poor meals at Ase Roman Catholic school in Wa West District

• By Digme Kantayir
• December 06, 2019
• 2

Two Hundred and thirteen (213) students of the Ase Roman Catholic Primary School in the Wa West District of the Upper West Region have till the end of this term to braise themselves to continue eating whatever food that is provided for them as calls to improve the quality of the meals at the school has fallen on death ears.

The cooks at the facility revealed the teachers don’t eat the meals due to the poor quality of the food as some of the students often prefer not to eat at all. A cook at the school, Madam Mary Gmama disclosed that Seven (7) bowls is what they served to the children anytime they cooked rice. And when its rice and beans, they measure four bowls of beans against three bowls of rice to sum up to seven bowls.

Madam Mary disclosed all attempts to plead for an adjustment in the food supply fell on death ears. She disclosed that whenever she cooks, she has to dilute the food else, there would be a shortage. She further added she sometimes have to use her own resources to make the meals better. Yet the remarks she gets from the coordinator has remained ‘’They are your children too’’.  ‘And it is true, they are my children can I deny them’ she asked the reporter.

Speaking at the school, the pupils complained over the quality of meals served them. A number of the students spoken to didn’t have good remarks of the food. Not even the local stable food TZ is said to be prepared properly. Aside serving them with dried Baobab leaves soup all the time they also complained about the texture of the TZ.

Dumba Agnes a student of the school lamented over the nature of their food. She explains that her friends eat very bad meals because they have no option. Agnes hinted they often find insects and other bad objects in their food and sometimes even have to pour away their meals.

Reacting to the allegation of inadequate supply of food items, the Care taker caterer who happens to be the Regional Coordinator of the School Feeding Program Diana Puopelle said the cooks lied about the situation. She disclosed that the caterer of the school is based in Accra but the school is under her (Diana Puopelle’s) watch. ‘Actually the caterer is not here. The caterer is in Accra, but we watch the school for her’ she added.

Madam Puopelle also alleged that thieves broke into the school stores but was being concealed by the head master of the school. She said several food items were stolen from the stores causing shortage at the school. She said a teacher at the school disclosed the theft issues to the caretaker. ‘It is because they stole the food. If not, Ase, that school we have never heard about any complain like they don’t cook or they threaten whatever’ Madam Diana added.

The Head master of the school, Mr. Vitus reacting to the development at the school said he had made efforts himself to no avail. He further disclosed earlier complains came with its consequence. He went further to explain there was no such thing as thieves braking in to the school stores. He further explained that the quantity of food brought lasted the exact time and not theft as being made up.

He therefore challenged the coordinator to expose the teacher who informed her about the theft so that the said teacher can explain how the rest of the school isn’t aware of the said theft.


Source: WatchGhana.Com