Govt to Expand School Meals Programme to Reach 10 Million Children.
The government has unveiled plans to expand the School Meals Programme (SMP) to cover 10 million schoolchildren across Kenya, a significant increase from the current 2.6 million beneficiaries.
The announcement was made by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos during the launch of 16 modern NG-CDF-funded classrooms at Mbauro and Mghambonyi comprehensive schools in Wundanyi Constituency, Taita Taveta County.
Migos reiterated the government’s commitment to providing nutritious meals for children, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that no child is left behind in accessing school meals. He noted that while the current programme benefits 2.6 million children, many areas of the country remain excluded, despite the pressing need.
Migos outlined the ministry’s plans to evaluate the requirements for extending the programme to areas like Taita Taveta. He acknowledged that the hunger experienced by schoolchildren in this region mirrors challenges faced by children in other parts of the country.
“There are some areas in our republic where schoolchildren are not getting that programme, although they deserve it.
“Currently the programme covers 2.6 schoolchildren benefiting. We have a plan to increase the programme until it reaches 10 million schoolchildren,” said Migos.
The School Meals Programme, launched in collaboration with the World Food Programme, aims to combat malnutrition and improve school attendance and academic performance in pre-primary and primary institutions nationwide.
Migos assured stakeholders of the ministry’s efforts to secure funding and resources to expand the programme to include all deserving children.
Regional Perspectives: The Case of Taita Taveta
Wundanyi Member of Parliament Danson Mwashako supported the push for the programme’s expansion, emphasizing the dire situation in Taita Taveta County. He pointed out that economic hardships have left many families unable to provide balanced meals, forcing children to attend school on empty stomachs.
Challenges in Taita Taveta
- High rates of hunger among schoolchildren.
- Reduced concentration and academic performance due to malnutrition.
Mwashako urged the Ministry of Education and other relevant agencies to prioritize marginalised and remote areas like Wundanyi Constituency in the programme’s rollout.
Mwashako highlighted the need for affirmative action to ensure equitable inclusion of children in underserved regions. He stressed that funds for the School Meals Programme are already allocated and that it is now crucial to incorporate these children into the initiative.
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He added that recognising Taita Taveta as a hardship area is critical to addressing both the nutritional needs of students and the challenging working conditions of teachers. The county’s difficult terrain and economic constraints, according to Mwashako, warrant government intervention to improve education outcomes.
The expansion of the School Meals Programme is poised to address nutritional deficits and improve academic performance, especially in vulnerable regions like Taita Taveta. Both national and local leaders remain optimistic about the programme’s potential impact on Kenya’s education sector.
Govt to Expand School Meals Programme to Reach 10 Million Children
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