The Gatanga National Government - Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) has launched a free feeding programme with an aim of boosting academic performance in local public primary schools. In a programme dubbed Dishi ya Wakili Tap to Eat, the local NG-CDF has partnered with Food 4-Education organization to offer free lunch to thousands of school-going children.
Parents will be required to pay only Sh 20 daily for his or her child to get lunch since the NGO and the NG-CDF will top up the extra cost. Every pupil enlisted in the programme will be issued with a wristband that will be scanned before they are served their lunch.
The free feeding programme is earmarked to be implemented in all 87 public primary schools within Gatanga Constituency. "Already the programme has been rolled out in 60 schools and in the near future, all the public primary schools in Gatanga will benefit from the feeding programme," said the area MP, Edward Muriu during the launch of the programme at Ngaatho primary school on Monday. According to the MP, hunger has been a major factor hindering good academic performance for many learners who struggle to focus on studying while making do on an empty stomach. "It has been a big challenge for learners to concentrate on their studies when they are hungry.
This programme aims to ensure parents only part with small amounts of money as their children access well prepared meals in their schools," noted Muriu. He added that the NG-CDF has continued to improve and renovate school infrastructure but the issue of hunger has remained a big challenge to good academic performance.
