adminAmanda Ncube, Sunday News Reporter
GAMPU Primary School in Bulawayo’s Mpopoma suburb on Friday launched its feeding programme as more schools adopt the scheme which is part of the new education curriculum to be introduced in all schools next year.
Speaking at the launch, Mzilikazi District schools inspector Mrs Zanele Muyambo said feeding pupils was vital as it helps them improve on their performance.
“School feeding programmes can help to get children into school and help to keep them there, through enhancing enrolment and reducing absenteeism, and once the children are in school, the programmes can contribute to their learning through avoiding hunger and enhancing cognitive abilities,” she said.
Mrs Muyambo said through the feeding programme every child would be able to concentrate on school work regardless of family back ground.
“School health and nutrition interventions have been recognised in addressing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of universal basic education and gender equality in educational access,” said Mrs Muyambo.
“In order to achieve these goals, it is essential that even the poorest children, who suffer most from ill health and hunger, are able to attend school and learn while there.”
Mrs Muyambo said school health and nutrition when incorporated with other child development strategies would play an important part in the development of child development.
“As part of a continuum of development support, inclusive of maternal and child health as well as early childhood development, school health and nutrition programmes are a critical step to ensuring a child is able to reach their full potential. This contributes to the child rights framework as articulated in the convention on the rights of the child,” she said.
Gampu Primary School headmistress Mrs Letwine Khumalo said the feeding scheme would be fully implemented next year.
“The new curriculum which will take off in 2017, hinges on the constitution of Zimbabwe which is the mother body of Zimbabwean policies, the Zim Asset and the MDGs. It also advocates for relevance in the education system and emphasises more on the entrepreneurship skills rather than being academic. It prepares learners at a tender primary stage for the world of work,” she said.
Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Dr Lazarus Dokora launched the programme at a national level in July.
Online Reporter