Wundanyi Member of Parliament Danson Mwashako has lamented the plight of schoolchildren in Wundanyi Constituency, Taita Taveta County, citing widespread hunger that affects their ability to concentrate and excel in class.
Speaking on Friday during the launch of 16 NG-CDF-funded classrooms at Mbauro and Mghambonyi comprehensive schools in Wundanyi, Mwashako urged the government to prioritize the county in the expansion of the School Meals Program (SMP).
“There is a high probability that many pre-primary and primary school pupils in Taita Taveta, especially in Wundanyi, go to school hungry because their parents cannot afford balanced meals every day. This affects their ability to concentrate and perform well in class,” Mwashako said.
The MP called for affirmative action, emphasizing the need to include children in remote and marginalized areas in the program’s expansion.
“There are funds already allocated for the School Feeding Programme. What we need now especially in Wundanyi constituency, is that these school children be included in that program so that these children can get a meal in school,” he said
Mwashako also highlighted the difficult working conditions for teachers in the county, urging the government to classify the remaining parts of Taita Taveta as a hardship area and introduce allowances to motivate educators.
In response, Education Cabinet Secretary Dr. Julius Migos who was the chief guest during the launch of the classrooms acknowledged the challenges faced by pupils in the region, noting that hunger among schoolchildren in Taita Taveta mirrors the situation in other counties.
Speaking at the same event, Dr. Migos announced the government’s plan to expand the SMP to reach 10 million children nationwide, up from the current 2.6 million beneficiaries.
“There are some areas in our republic where schoolchildren are not getting that program although they deserve it. Currently the program covers 2.6 schoolchildren benefiting. We have a plan to increase program until it reaches 10 million schoolchildren,” said Dr. Migos.
He assured stakeholders that the ministry would look into the requirements to include schoolchildren from Taita Taveta in the program.
“We will sit down and look into what is required to include the schoolchildren from this area in that program,” said Dr. Migos.
Launched in partnership with the World Food Program, the SMP addresses malnutrition and aims to improve school attendance and academic performance in pre-primary and primary schools across Kenya.
The CS also addressed Mwashako’s call for hardship allowances for teachers, stating that the government is harmonizing policies to ensure equitable classification of hardship areas.
“We have already made the policies, and we have listed the areas that require to be harmonized so that your neighbor is not declared hardship and then you who live in the same area, you are not hardship. So, that proposal is being handled as we speak,” he stated.
Dr. Migos further highlighted the government’s achievements in addressing infrastructure challenges in schools. He revealed that 14,500 junior secondary classrooms had been constructed since October, with a target of 16,000 by February to ensure seamless transition for Grade 9 learners.
Additionally, the CS announced that the government has employed over 76,000 teachers and provided 9.9 million textbooks to ensure a 1:1 book-to-student ratio, alleviating the financial burden on parents.
“It is our responsibility as a government to do all that it takes to provide free, basic education to our children as provided for in the Constitution,” he said.
Dr. Migos noted that the government aim is to ensure that every child has access to quality education and equal opportunities to thrive.
