
Schools in ASAL to Benefit From Kshs.2.7billion Govt food Program
The government of Kenya has announced plans to distribute food valued at Kshs.2.7billion to students in schools across 26 Counties in Arid and Semi-arid (ASAL) areas.
Education Cabinet Secretary, Ezekiel Machogu, revealed that the disbursement aims to improve learning outcomes, retention of learners, and ensure enrollment in schools in the ASAL regions.
The Ministry is partnering with development partners to provide additional food stocks, which will boost the government’s budgetary allocation.
Machogu stressed the importance of food availability in schools in ASAL areas that suffer from prolonged drought, as it attracts and keeps children in school, thereby enabling them to learn comfortably.
He made these statements when he received UNICEF Country Representative in Kenya, Shaheen Nilofer, and other education officials in his office.
The Education Cabinet Secretary expressed gratitude to UNICEF for its long-standing partnership with Kenya on children-related matters, including support for the competence-based curriculum, facilitating access to and retention in school, provision of sanitary pads to school-going girls, teacher capacity development, and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) projects in schools.
Nilofer commended Kenya for the ongoing education reforms, saying they would better prepare learners for the 21st century. She thanked the country for training and recruiting teachers, particularly in ASAL areas, emphasizing that learning outcomes depend on qualified teachers.
Dr. Beatrice Inyangala, the Principal Secretary for the State Departments of University Education & Research, noted the need for UNICEF to strengthen teachers’ capacity to support the competence-based curriculum (CBC) reforms by reskilling them.
While University Education is outside UNICEF’s mandate, Dr. Inyangala urged the Country Representative to support the realignment of Bachelor of Education programmes to CBC requirements to ensure the success of its implementation.
In conclusion, the government’s decision to distribute food to students in ASAL areas is a commendable move that will enhance learning outcomes, retention, and enrollment in schools in the region.
The partnership between the government and UNICEF has been fruitful, with support on a variety of fronts to reform basic education in Kenya.
The reskilling of teachers to support CBC reforms and the realignment of Bachelor of Education programmes to CBC requirements are necessary steps towards the successful implementation of education reforms in Kenya.
Schools in ASAL to Benefit From Kshs.2.7billion Govt food Program