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Precious Manomano
Herald Reporter
THE Government will continue running the school feeding programme next year to eliminate hunger in schools and promote a conducive learning environment.
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson Mr Taungana Ndoro has assured parents that the programme will continue as the ministry was still holding more stocks of grain that will sustain children for the next two months.
“We need some new procurement but currently we have grain that will cover almost two months of the next season. The programme is going on well with the support of development partners, Members of Parliament that are supporting schools in their constituencies and even former students are also providing support to their schools.”
Mr Ndoro indicated that the cooperation of parents throughout the country in the programme wa greatly appreciated.
“We are proud of our parents who are coming forward with cash and relish. These are our major stakeholders in the programme, and we hope to continue working with them until the end of the programme.”
In September this year, Government secured 27 000 tonnes of mealie-meal which was distributed to both rural and urban schools, and over 4 000 schools have received their allocation.
Reports have indicated that the school feeding programme has increased enrolment and reduced absenteeism.
Zimbabwe National Union of School Heads secretary general, Mr Munyaradzi Majoni, recently said the school feeding programme was going a long way in alleviating hunger in schools.
He said it was critical for the Government to cascade the programme countrywide, adding that even some former Group A schools had vulnerable children under their enrolment.
“The initiative is a good step by the Government. We appeal to the Government to introduce the programme to all public schools. In Group A schools, we can see that there are other children who are vulnerable. They need food as well. Majority were affected by the drought, hence they need assistance,” he said.
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