Education
Learners in three sub counties in Busia have reason to smile after Busia Women Rep Catherine Omanyo launched a school feeding program targeting schools in arid and semi- arid areas.
Omanyo who toured Bunyala, Samia and Teso North sub counties all that qualify to be classified as Semi-Arid areas launched the program at Amagoro Primary where learners enjoyed a delicious cup of porridge. The program aims at improving on learner’s retention in schools and will see over 30,000 learners in primary and junior secondary schools benefit.
“With the high poverty index level and Busia County being on the receiving end of advanced floods, learners in this county should be treated as those in arid and semi-arid areas,” Omanyo urged the government during the launch of the program.
The legislator noted that children in Busia County have been for many years subjected to neglect which in turn resulted in high rates of child labour, defilement and early marriage among school going children. “With child neglect rate of 53%, pupils within Busia County remain vulnerable and this deprives them of equal opportunity to compete with the rest of learners in the country,” she added.
Busia women Rep Catherine Omanyo sharing a meal with learners of Amagoro Comprehensive school in Teso North Sub County.
Omanyo pauses for a photo with girls after issuing sanitary pads at Amagoro primary.
Omanyo serving porridge to pupils at Amagoro primary school.
“According to The World Bank, school feeding programs are a social safety net that provides educational and health benefits to vulnerable children and increase enrollment rates, decrease absenteeism, and improve nutrition at the household level,” she remarked.
The Women Rep at the same time said Busia NGAAF was allocated Sh10m just like other counties to go towards the purchase of sanitary towels which aims at giving girl-child dignity and confidence to compete with male counterparts with minimal interruptions.
“Today marked the final day of the countywide distribution of sanitary towels to girls in Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) and day secondary schools, were Teso South got 57,890 packets, Teso Central: 43,000 packets, Teso North: 72,500 packets, Matayos/Busia Sub-County: 57,600 packets, Nambale: 43,296 packets, Butula: 48,000 packets, Samia: 41,856 packets and Bunyala: 27,696 packets,” she added.
Omanyo stressed that it is important to make sanitary pads affordable for girls to enhance school attendance and improve girl’s concentration in class.