- Project has the goal of increasing learner enrolment, enhancing ECDE pupil retention, and promoting better nutrition.
- The county boss appealed to NGOs, organised groups, and Good Samaritans to come on board.
Image: GERALD MUTETHIA
Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza has launched Sh78 million free milk and nutrition programme for ECDE learners in the county.
The Early Childhood Development Education feeding programme will benefit at least 60,000 learners in 777 centers.
Speaking at the county headquarters during the launch, Mwangaza said the programme encompasses provision of fortified porridge with the primary goal of increasing learner enrolment, enhancing ECDE pupil retention, and promoting better nutrition.
“The initiative will enable each pupil to get a cup of fortified porridge every day from Monday to Friday. My administration has allocated an annual budget of Sh78 million to ensure the smooth execution of this initiative. To ensure long-term success, we are collaborating closely with parents. Each child has been allocated Sh400 per month. Each school has opened an account where the money will be deposited for successful management of the funds,” Mwangaza said.
The county boss appealed to NGOs, organised groups, and Good Samaritans to come on board and support the programme because the population of learners is likely to increase.
She said her administration has already formed a management committee of five people in each school and they have opened an account where the money will be deposited for seamless operation of the initiative.
She advised the management to only buy the products from the nearby villages in order to enable the locals to benefit from the programme.
Mwangaza said many learners in arid and semi-arid areas have dropped out of school due to biting hunger and poverty.
“I am informed some schools have as few as 15 learners with the majority preferring to stay at home to look for the next meal. I promise to improve the feeding programme in the future by doubling or tripling the amount to enable the pupils to also have lunch,” she said.
She said before the feeding programme started, the county had sent out experts to establish the learner population and how much a child can consume per term.
“We have also formed a monitoring team for accountability and continuity of the programme. To ensure long-term success, we are collaborating closely with parents,” Mwangaza said.
Mwangaza said her administration will build 50 new ECDE classes and that teachers will have refresher courses to sharpen their skills.
Mwangaza also issued a cheque of Sh58 million meant for infrastructural development of vocational training centres and ECDEs.
"In this financial year, we have allocated Sh136 million for bursaries and each ward will receive Sh3 million. We have also set aside Sh58 million to improve infrastructure in our vocational training centres. We will also pay exam fees for every student in our vocational training centres,” Mwangaza said.