A Big Blow To Learners As School Feeding Programme Scrapped. Gov’t States
The national government now intends to discontinue the school feeding programme.
In a decision that has sparked outrage among National Assembly members, the Treasury has recommended eliminating the program’s funding from the 2024/2025 budget forecasts.
The scheme was budgeted Ksh.4.9 billion in the current fiscal year, but the Ministry of Education requested Ksh.1 billion more in the supplementary budget.
The Treasury, on the other hand, has decided to discontinue the program entirely, a decision that MPs worry will have an impact on 4.5 million students.
“The biggest challenge we are facing is that the whole budget has been removed, those of us who take three meals a day might not know the feeling of what happens when a child does not have a meal in some certain parts of this country, that is why I wanted my colleagues from Treasury who think this programme is not important to be here,” bemoaned Basic Education PS Belio Kipsang.
PS Kipsang, while before the Education committee to defend the budget, complained of large reduction in next year’s budget estimates of Ksh.7 billion in total.
“We must recognize that the school food program is so fundamental to the achievement of students that it is critical to ensuring that every child receives an education. “We are requesting that the National Assembly reinstate the school feeding program,” he stated.
“It is critical that the single meal that pupils receive at lunchtime be kept. It is critical that the cup of porridge provided is kept because the majority of kids arrive without having eaten anything at home. More than 2 million pupils are absent from school, and food is a contributing factor.
The committee headed by Julius Melly was perplexed as to why the government was abandoning the scheme, given that the Kenya Kwanza government had pledged to expand the program even further in order to incentivize students to attend school.
“What I would like to know is what justification was offered for this program’s cancellation? I assumed that this government’s policy was to continue pouring money into it. Melly was poked.
PS Kipsang also threatened to withhold further funding from the ministry, threatening severe repercussions for students in elementary, middle, and even high schools.
The junior school will suffer the most, according to the ministry, with enrollment rising to 3,289 students, requiring Ksh. 46.1 billion to sponsor the children.
According to the Basic Education PS, there is now a Ksh. 15.4 billion shortfall.
“We respectfully request that you grant this committee the authority to appropriate funds for the education sector. The Constitution grants you this authority,” Kipsang stated.
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A Big Blow To Learners As School Feeding Programme Scrapped. Gov’t States
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