- Schools with the feeding programme performed up to 30% higher than schools without feeding programmes, and school attendance across 28 schools improved by 45%.
- Members of Parliament recently proposed increased budget allocation towards the school feeding programme in primary schools.
Image: UNICEF Kenya/Lameck Orina
Hunger among children contributes negatively to their mental growth and affects their performance in school, a food scientist has said.
Wawira Njiru launched a school feeding program that provides food to children in the slums.
She was motivated by the urge to improve nutrition in children upbringing saying it's an important determinant of a child’s performance in school.
Wawira who spoke to the Star in an interview urged the government to initiate programmes that will ensure all children are well fed at home and school.
“A child who is well fed will come to school regularly and will not sit or hide in the corner, they will be playful and active,” Njiru said.
She also added that good nutrition increases chances of children’s smooth transition in their education.
Members of Parliament recently proposed increased budget allocation towards the school feeding programme in primary schools.
The programme intends to distribute hot day meals to 1.9 million learners in arid and semi-arid areas and urban slums.
It will be facilitated through direct distribution and procurement of homegrown foods at an allocated budget of Sh1.8 billion.
Njiru highlighted the challenges she faces while running the Food for Education programme in the slums.
“The demand is high, we have a lot of schools wanting children to be fed," Njiru said.
"The challenge is setting up a general base and also having enough resources."
Statistics have shown that stunted children grow up to earn 22 per cent less than non-stunted children.
Non-stunted children have a 33 per cent chance of getting out of poverty compared to stunted ones.
FFE’s internal analysis of schools enrolled in the feeding programme showed a 20 per cent improvement in the performance of the schools in the 2020 National Examination.
Additionally, schools with the feeding programmes performed up to 30 per cent higher than schools without. Attendance in 28 schools also improved by 45 per cent.
According to Unicef, at least 1 in 3 children below 5 years is undernourished or overweight.
Another 1 in 2 suffers from hidden hunger, undermining the capacity of millions of children to grow and develop to their full potential.
“In 2018, almost 200 million children under 5 suffered from stunted growth or wasting while at least 340 million suffered from hidden hunger,” the report reads.
The school feeding programme initiated by government promotes food production for school supply and local community consumption.
The programme is a critical contribution to food security while also guarantees nutrition security to learners in marginalised areas.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)