Double chow for children at My First Day at School

Some school children within the Sunyani Municipality and the Sunyani-West District were privileged to be served a double meal, by both the old and new caterers, under the School Feeding Programme, to have a joyful First Day at School commemoration.

Children in schools like the Fiapre Methodist Model Primary and Odumasi L/A Primary and JHS, were very happy to have been served double at lunch, due to confusion between two sets of caterers, following directives by their respective Chief Executives.

The old caterers have been asked to pave way for new ones to take over the cooking by their District and Municipal chief Executives, but the caterers are contesting that they had been contracted for two years, of which they had only worked for six months, so would continue till the expiration of the contracts.

However, the new caterers have also been ordered by their respective chief executives to commence work on the very first day schools reopen, of which failure to do so, would imply that they were not ready to work, thereby their contracts would be cancelled.

In order not to lose their jobs, both the old and new caterers went to their various schools to work as usual, which turned out to be a special day for the school children, as they really had a memorable 'My First Day at School' celebration, as they witnessed a food bazaar for the first time.

The ecstatic school children suddenly turned to be testing officers of the two sets of caterers, as they tasted the dishes before choosing the most delicious and appetizing ones to eat.

The situation nearly marred the “My First Day at School”, as at the Methodist Model School at Fiapre, the caterers resorted to verbal attacks after the school children decided to compare the two dishes for the most delicious one after lunch, but due to the timely intervention of the teachers present the situation was controlled.

Meanwhile, at Atronie the Deputy Regional Minister, Eric Opoku, together with the Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, Kwasi Oppong Ababio, interacted with a cluster of schools to mark 'My First at School.'

The Deputy Regional Minister reiterated the government's promise to provide free exercise books and uniforms before the end of the year, urging them to partake in all school activities, especially in sports.

He called on parents to make sure their wards were prevented from watching unhealthy movies and other activities that would shift their attention from school, and always try as much to provide their needs to help retain them in the classrooms.

The MCE, Kwasi Oppong Ababio, on his part, warned the teachers and school authorities to avoid bullying school children under their care, to help retain them in the classrooms to contribute to the agenda of offering education to every child of school-going age.

He called on the teachers not to extort money from parents, but cooperate with them to train the children for a brighter future that would be beneficial to the economic advancement of the country.

The Deputy Minister and his entourage distributed caps, biscuits, and sweets to the children, as a welcome for their first day in school.