Government Drastically Hikes Special Needs Feeding Grant by 87% with Immediate Effect | Discuss Ghana

The state’s social intervention safety net for vulnerable learners has received a massive, long-awaited financial upgrade. In a decisive policy move aimed at shielding specialized education from inflationary pressures, the Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has announced an immediate 87.5% upward adjustment of the daily feeding grant for students in special needs schools nationwide, raising the allocation from GH¢8 to GH¢15 per student.

The major structural adjustment was made public as part of the ministry’s proactive review of institutional welfare lines. Recognizing that the previous GH¢8 threshold had become severely compromised by shifting commodity prices, Hon. Iddrisu emphasized that the government chose to prioritize specialized institutions to ensure that no child—regardless of their physical or developmental vulnerabilities—is left behind in the delivery of premium nutritional and educational care.

The Architecture of the Improved Care Framework

The Education Minister detailed the immediate operational and nutritional parameters driving the newly adjusted funding scheme:

Immediate Execution and Funding Outlets: The upward adjustment takes effect with absolute immediacy across all public special education structures. The Ministry of Education has synchronized with the Controller and Accountant General’s Department to ensure that the newly calculated disbursements are pushed straight to institutional accounts without bureaucratic delays.

Elevating Quality and Nutrition: Hon. Iddrisu explained that the near-doubling of the grant is meticulously designed to revamp the daily dietary intake of special needs learners, giving school caterers and administrators the financial flexibility to provide rich, well-balanced meals essential for cognitive and physical development:

"We cannot talk about an inclusive, high-vibe educational system without taking uncompromised care of our most vulnerable learners. The previous feeding grant of GH¢8 was simply no longer sustainable under current economic realities.

By immediately increasing this allocation to GH¢15 nationwide, this administration is making a direct, compassionate investment in the dignity, health, and welfare of our special needs students. This is not just about increasing numbers; it is about drastically improving the quality of nutrition, ease of mind for school heads, and creating a deeply supportive, secure learning environment where every single child can thrive under optimal care."