Donors warn on UPE lunch
Oct 15, 2010
Donors have joined the campaign advocating for provision of lunch meals in universal primary schools.
By Conan Businge
Donors have joined the campaign advocating for provision of lunch meals in universal primary schools.
On behalf of the donor community, the Netherlands Ambassador to Uganda, Jeroen Verheul, yesterday observed that the lack of lunch is one of the strongest deterrents to quality education in the country and the Government must respond quickly.
Representing education development partners, Verheul said the Government must pay attention to providing lunch for pupils, if it wants to improve the quality of education.
He was speaking at the launch of the Uwezo’s report in Kampala yesterday.
The report, which is an initiative of the Uganda National NGO Forum, aims at promoting citizen participation in children’s education.
“We cannot expect the Government to provide lunch to pupils. It is a costly and unaffordable venture. We need local initiatives,†Verheul said.
He urged parents to work with the schools to make sure pupils have lunch at school.
“Politicians should not blame schools for asking parents to pay fees for lunch, “ Verheul said.
The donors’ comments come at a time when the National Planning Authority is developing a national nutritional policy.
The authority’s vice-chairman, Dr. Abel Rwendeire, said his institution was working with the health and agriculture ministries to boost food production and ensure that nutritional levels are raised.
“If parents appreciate the role of feeding, they will be able to feed their children in schools. The Government should help communities initiate mechanisms to ensure pupils are fed,†Rwendeire explained.
While numerous studies have showed that lack of lunch in UPE schools is directly responsible for the poor quality of education in primary schools, the Uwezo report, however, states that about 90% of the households sampled reported that they provide a mid-day meal to their school-going children.
But several officials from the education ministry disputed this, saying if that was the case, the quality of education would have greatly improved by now.
The report also noted that about 69% of the parents in the last one year had not visited schools to follow up their children’s performance.
It was based on a study conducted in April by a team of 1,620 village volunteers in 27 districts.
Donors have joined the campaign advocating for provision of lunch meals in universal primary schools.
On behalf of the donor community, the Netherlands Ambassador to Uganda, Jeroen Verheul, yesterday observed that the lack of lunch is one of the strongest deterrents to quality education in the country and the Government must respond quickly.
Representing education development partners, Verheul said the Government must pay attention to providing lunch for pupils, if it wants to improve the quality of education.
He was speaking at the launch of the Uwezo’s report in Kampala yesterday.
The report, which is an initiative of the Uganda National NGO Forum, aims at promoting citizen participation in children’s education.
“We cannot expect the Government to provide lunch to pupils. It is a costly and unaffordable venture. We need local initiatives,†Verheul said.
He urged parents to work with the schools to make sure pupils have lunch at school.
“Politicians should not blame schools for asking parents to pay fees for lunch, “ Verheul said.
The donors’ comments come at a time when the National Planning Authority is developing a national nutritional policy.
The authority’s vice-chairman, Dr. Abel Rwendeire, said his institution was working with the health and agriculture ministries to boost food production and ensure that nutritional levels are raised.
“If parents appreciate the role of feeding, they will be able to feed their children in schools. The Government should help communities initiate mechanisms to ensure pupils are fed,†Rwendeire explained.
While numerous studies have showed that lack of lunch in UPE schools is directly responsible for the poor quality of education in primary schools, the Uwezo report, however, states that about 90% of the households sampled reported that they provide a mid-day meal to their school-going children.
But several officials from the education ministry disputed this, saying if that was the case, the quality of education would have greatly improved by now.
The report also noted that about 69% of the parents in the last one year had not visited schools to follow up their children’s performance.
It was based on a study conducted in April by a team of 1,620 village volunteers in 27 districts.