
Govt to Double Funding for School Meals Programme for Universal Primary Education
The Principal Secretary (PS) State Department for Basic Education, Dr. Belio Kipsang, has announced a significant increase in funding for the school meals programme in the next financial year.
The National Government plans to double the funding from Sh 2 billion to 4 billion shillings.
This initiative aims to enhance the feeding and retention of children in schools, aligning with the government’s efforts to achieve universal primary education and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr. Kipsang emphasized the critical role of food and nutrition in the cognitive development and overall well-being of learners.
“The school meals programme is a powerful way of incentivising our young ones into enrolling in our schools and increasing the numbers of those who are in school and reducing those who are out of school,” he said.
Marginalized and Vulnerable Communities
The school meals programme has emerged as an essential strategy for reaching marginalized and vulnerable communities, including those living in poverty and urban areas.
The PS acknowledged the government’s provision of porridge in early learning institutions in informal urban settlements to support learners.
This concerted effort aims to ensure that no child is left behind in accessing quality education.
To ensure the sustainability of the feeding programme, the Ministry of Education will collaborate with county governors on the Home-Grown School Meals Programme.
This initiative involves local communities contributing necessary ingredients such as milk and grains to facilitate the programme.
This approach creates a beneficial link between the education and agricultural sectors, as it supports local farmers and provides an income while ensuring children receive nutritious meals in schools.
Dr. Kipsang called upon governors from all 47 counties to support this initiative, emphasizing the mutual benefits it offers to both the agricultural and education sectors.
He urged them to explore ways to provide fortified porridge or milk, depending on the resources available in their respective areas.
By doing so, they would not only support local communities but also contribute to reducing the cost of education in the future.
Foundational Learning
“Children at this particular age are at the stage of fastest growth and development of their brain and for the brain to develop, we need proper nutrition and what they would get from this milk, will be able to assist them to be the future that they would be,” said. Dr. Kipsang.
The PS highlighted the importance of investing in Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) as a means of reducing future education costs.
Research has shown that a solid foundation in ECDE leads to cost savings of up to 15 percent in subsequent levels of education.
Dr. Kipsang commended Governor Chelilim for introducing the school milk programme in Uasin Gishu County, emphasizing the long-term benefits it brings to quality education.
Govt to Double Funding for School Meals Programme for Universal Primary Education