Tanzanian School offers free meals, exam results soar

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Tanzania: School offers free meals, exam results soar
Source: United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)

Date: 20 Apr 2009


Almost all the students at the Enguike primary school in Tanzania now pass entry exams for secondary school. But before the free meals programme started, the pass rate was close to zero.

ENGUIKE (Northern Tanzania) - George Lowassa, the district coordinator for school feeding, remembers what it was like at the local primary school before the free meals programme started. "You would find the children fast asleep because they were so hungry and tired. Many of them have to walk up to 12 kilometres just to get here – on an empty stomach! Can you imagine?"

In 2003, thanks to the support of WFP, the school began to offer every child a morning snack and a cooked lunch. "Before the programme started, not one of our children graduated to secondary school. Enrollment and attendance were very low," says headmaster Emmanuel Kaaya. "But we have seen a tremendous change."

Pass rate climbed

In 2004, the first Enguike students made it on to secondary school – half of the class of 18 passing their exams. The pass rate has climbed steadily since, with 36 of 38 passing last year. The difference is anecdotal, but astounding nonetheless.

And when times are tough, school meals become even more important. The Enguike district is in the grip of a drought after recent rains failed. Row after row of maize stands blitzed in the fields. Farming households now await the next harvest in two or three months, doing their best to make ends meet in the meantime.

Main meal of day

"People are not getting food they need," says headmaster Kaaya. "When they go home, most of the children will only get some kind of porridge for their evening meal. What they get in school is their main food for the day."

Students like Jonas Oltimbau, a 15 year-old in Standard 6, are a case in point. His parents are farmers and he has watched their maize wither and die this year. School is where he gets his best meal of the day – by the time he gets home, dinner will be little more than a few mouthfuls.

He wants to be a lawyer: "I want to practise the laws of our country to maintain peace and stability in Tanzania."

A few years ago, Jonas's dream might have sounded like fantasy.

ReliefWeb » Document » Tanzania: School offers free meals, exam results soar

 

[Saikosisi]

School nutrition is very important but it is often overlooked or perhaps there are other 'more important' priorities.
Brain can't function efficiently without 'food'.
This program should be replicated in other schools as well.
FYI: There is planning for a pilot program to provide snacks to students in some schools in Ilala district, I think it will start later this year. We will see what comes out of it in a few years.

 

[Susuviri]

Tukichunguza tunaweza kukuta kuwa tatizo hili la kukosa mlo kamili ni sababu kubwa ya kufeli kwa wanafunzi wetu. Program kama hizi zinabidi zifanywe na watanzania pia sio kusubiri misaada tu. Kuna watu Dar na Arusha ambao wanatumia laki 1 kwa siku kwa starehe zao, wngetoa sehemu ya pesa zao kwa ajili ya programu kama hizi za kulisha watoto mashuleni!

 

[kinepi_nepi]

Tukichunguza tunaweza kukuta kuwa tatizo hili la kukosa mlo kamili ni sababu kubwa ya kufeli kwa wanafunzi wetu. Program kama hizi zinabidi zifanywe na watanzania pia sio kusubiri misaada tu. Kuna watu Dar na Arusha ambao wanatumia laki 1 kwa siku kwa starehe zao, wngetoa sehemu ya pesa zao kwa ajili ya programu kama hizi za kulisha watoto mashuleni!

Starehe ni nini??? kutumia fedha ngapi ndio inakuwa starehe au ni umasikini tu???
Serikali ya Mwalimu nakumbuka ilikuwa na milo bure mashuleni. Kama ilivyo nchi za Ulaya na Marekani. Hii inamfanya mwanafunzi kuwa na umakini na shibe Darasani na kumsikiliza mwalimu vizuri.
Nakumbuka walipokatisha milo watoto walikuwa hawapati kifungua kinywa kwani wengi hutembea mwendo wa mbali na hawawezi pata lunch kwani nyumbani ni mbali au lunch hakuna hata akirudi nyumbani.

Kweli hili linahitaji uangalizi na hapa ndipo mtanzania angetakiwa kupigania fedha zinazopotea kwenye matundu harama kama, EPA, TWIN TOWER, BOGUS MINNING CONTRACTS, BANDARI, MALI ASILI , BAJETI YENYEWE WABUNGE LUKUKI NK.......

 

[Zogwale]

Kama serikali ya Tanzania iko serious na masuala ya Elimu ni vema ifanye haraka kutafuta sustainable solution/source ya kurudisha chakula katika shule za day za serikali. Katika hali ya kawaida hata kama mtoto amepata kifungua kinywa nyumbani but kwa umri wake anakua anahitaji body nutrients (in 4 groups of foods). Kwa kawaida after every 3 hours the stomach must be empty, ndiyo maana kwa familia zenye uwezo watoto kama wapo nyumbani they get at least a snack after the main food course ( a snack between breakfast at 10:00 am, lunch at 1:00 pm, a snack between lunch and dinner preferably at 4:00pm) hapo hujasahau liquids like fresh juice na fruits and vegetables in the main courses.

Kwa kuwa basi si familia zote zenye uwezo wa kuwapatia watoto vyakula hivi then serikali ione namna ambavyo angalao itawapatia mlo wa mchana watoto (wajitahidi kuwa na mboga na matunda) maana familia nyingi haziwapi watoto vyakula vya vitamins (body protective foods). Imagine mimi na umri wangu after 3 hours busy on the computer or other routine work najiskia uchomvu na njaa, je watoto ambao wanakua na food (especially energy intake) inahitajika sana kujenga mwili, brain, etc.

Nakwambia kwa mtindo huu hiyo hela hewa ya EPA ingekuwa na matokea mazuri kama wangewekeza kiasi fulani kwenye elimu (human capital/investment). Hapo ni bongela soo, hatuna wana mipango mizuri hata kidogo, au kama wapo basi politics ndiyo zinatawala and planners and economists are not properly utilised in this country, sorry to say this.