The Ghana Education Service in the Savannah Region of Ghana has directed all Municipal and District Directors of Education to immediately stop the practice of using primary school pupils to gather firewood for caterers under the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP).
The directive follows concerns over reports that some basic schools across the Savannah Region have been tasking pupils with collecting and supplying firewood to caterers responsible for preparing meals under the programme.
In a letter dated September 22, 2026, and signed by the Savannah Regional Director of Education, Mr Bright A. Lawoe, the Directorate described the practice as “unacceptable” and said it compromises the safety and welfare of pupils while violating child protection policies.
According to the Regional Education Directorate, caterers contracted under the Ghana School Feeding Programme are entirely responsible for sourcing their own cooking fuel and handling their operational logistics.
The Savannah Region GES Directorate stressed that such responsibilities must not be transferred to schoolchildren.
All Municipal/District Directors of Education in the Savannah Region have consequently been instructed to urgently direct Headteachers and School Improvement Support Officers (SISOs) within their jurisdictions to enforce an immediate halt to the practice.
The Regional Education Directorate further warned that any Caterer or Headteacher found exploiting learners for firewood collection would face immediate disciplinary action, with caterers potentially having their contracts terminated.
The directive has been copied to the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, the Savannah Regional Minister and the Regional Coordinator of the Ghana School Feeding Programme in Damongo.
The Savannah Region GES Regional Director urged education authorities to treat the directive with the utmost urgency and ensure that pupils are protected from activities that could expose them to unnecessary risks.
Source: nkilgifm.com
