Low turn up as food shortage hits Karamoja schools
AS schools opened for the new term last week, there was a noticeable low turn up of pupils in primary schools in Karamoja.
By Olandason Wanyama
AS schools opened for the new term last week, there was a noticeable low turn up of pupils in primary schools in Karamoja.
A survey done by New Vision last week indicated that most schools received very few children compared to the previous term.
At Moroto Municipality Primary School, 1,095 pupils completed first term.
However, only 558 have reported for second term.
The headmistress of the school, Rose Ebalo attributed the low turn up to lack of food.
“I have many children especially those in boarding section asking whether there is food at school,†she says.
At Karamoja Development Agency Primary School, Joseph Korobe the headmaster said he had received 215 out of the 615 pupils.
“We have got that number because we do not have food to provide for them,†he explains.
Korobe says most of the children come in the morning, stop at the school gate and walk away.
“I cannot keep children in the boarding section when they do not have what to eat,†he says.
At Army Primary School, the head teacher, Rose Odeke Ayugi says the children had shunned school.
“Most of our children have feared reporting due to lack of food at the school. Those who reported the first day of the term have gone back because we cannot keep them starving,†she said.
Meanwhile the chief administrative officer Moroto Stephen Ouma delivered at least 1,300 kilos of posho sent by the office of the prime minister to a few schools.
“Our intention is to make sure children go to school as we wait for more food to arrive,†he says.
He adds that the Government and World Food Programme (WFP) promised to have food ready for schools by the beginning of the first term.
In Kotido district out of 26 primary schools with a total enrollment of 16,724 pupils, only 30% of the pupils have reported.
Ambrose Lotukei, the District Education officer says some schools serve porridge for breakfast, lunch and supper.
Last month, the WFP temporarily suspended food aid to Karamoja schools due to lack of funds.
The head of Moroto zonal office, Sankoh Bai Mankay, advised the schools to prepare one meal a day for the learners.
Primary schools, teachers colleges, secondary schools and tertiary institutions have all been benefitting from the aid.
Petero Lochugae, a parent at Lotome Primary school, says suspending the programme would mean no school.
The chairperson of Karamoja Secondary School head teachers’ association, Peter Luzige, advises parents to contribute food to help classes resume.
AS schools opened for the new term last week, there was a noticeable low turn up of pupils in primary schools in Karamoja.
A survey done by New Vision last week indicated that most schools received very few children compared to the previous term.
At Moroto Municipality Primary School, 1,095 pupils completed first term.
However, only 558 have reported for second term.
The headmistress of the school, Rose Ebalo attributed the low turn up to lack of food.
“I have many children especially those in boarding section asking whether there is food at school,†she says.
At Karamoja Development Agency Primary School, Joseph Korobe the headmaster said he had received 215 out of the 615 pupils.
“We have got that number because we do not have food to provide for them,†he explains.
Korobe says most of the children come in the morning, stop at the school gate and walk away.
“I cannot keep children in the boarding section when they do not have what to eat,†he says.
At Army Primary School, the head teacher, Rose Odeke Ayugi says the children had shunned school.
“Most of our children have feared reporting due to lack of food at the school. Those who reported the first day of the term have gone back because we cannot keep them starving,†she said.
Meanwhile the chief administrative officer Moroto Stephen Ouma delivered at least 1,300 kilos of posho sent by the office of the prime minister to a few schools.
“Our intention is to make sure children go to school as we wait for more food to arrive,†he says.
He adds that the Government and World Food Programme (WFP) promised to have food ready for schools by the beginning of the first term.
In Kotido district out of 26 primary schools with a total enrollment of 16,724 pupils, only 30% of the pupils have reported.
Ambrose Lotukei, the District Education officer says some schools serve porridge for breakfast, lunch and supper.
Last month, the WFP temporarily suspended food aid to Karamoja schools due to lack of funds.
The head of Moroto zonal office, Sankoh Bai Mankay, advised the schools to prepare one meal a day for the learners.
Primary schools, teachers colleges, secondary schools and tertiary institutions have all been benefitting from the aid.
Petero Lochugae, a parent at Lotome Primary school, says suspending the programme would mean no school.
The chairperson of Karamoja Secondary School head teachers’ association, Peter Luzige, advises parents to contribute food to help classes resume.