The Savannah Regional Education Directorate has issued a stern directive ordering an immediate end to the practice of using Primary School pupils to gather and supply firewood to caterers under the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP).
The directive, signed by the Regional Director of Education, Mr. Bright A. Lawoe, and dated 22nd September, 2026, was addressed to all Municipal and District Directors of Education in the Savannah Region.
According to the letter, the attention of the Directorate had been drawn to what it described as an unacceptable practice in some Basic Schools across the Region, where learners were being tasked with sourcing and supplying firewood to GSFP caterers a duty that clearly falls outside the responsibilities of pupils.
The Directorate stressed that under GSFP operational guidelines, contracted caterers are entirely responsible for sourcing their own cooking fuel and logistics, and must do so independently without placing any operational burden on pupils.
The letter further warned that the practice severely compromises the safety of pupils and directly violates child protection policies.
Headteachers, School Inspectors (SISOs), and caterers have been put on notice that any individual found exploiting learners for firewood collection will face immediate disciplinary action and risk contract termination.
The directive has been copied to the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service in Accra, the Savannah Regional Minister, and the Regional Coordinator of the Ghana School Feeding Programme in Damongo.
