Wajir County Introduces School Meals Program to Assist ECDE Students During Drought Conditions
The county government uses the school meals program and sanitary kits initiative to create a comprehensive drought response plan which protects vital social services especially education from the impacts of climate emergencies.
The initiative, which is being implemented across all sub-counties, will benefit 27,802 ECDE learners in 376 centres. Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang
Wajir County has established a school meals program which provides Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) students with meals to support their educational needs during the ongoing drought conditions which affect the entire region.
The program operates across all sub-counties to support 27,802 ECDE learners from 376 education centers. The initiative provides students with 356 tonnes of fortified Con-Soy porridge to help students achieve better nutritional status and improve their classroom focus which will result in better educational results.
Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi announced the program at its official launch which aims to boost school attendance and retention rates among young students whose families suffer from the ongoing drought crisis.
“By providing regular meals in our ECDE centres, we are ensuring that children remain in school and are able to concentrate in class despite the hardships brought about by the drought,” Governor Abdullahi said.
The county government has established its Sanitary Kits Initiative to provide sanitary kits for girls who attend school in addition to the existing school meal program. The initiative aims to address menstruation-related absenteeism which continues to affect learners from vulnerable households.
Governor Abdullahi stated that girls need access to sanitary products because it allows them to pursue their education without losing their dignity as human beings. “No girl should be forced to miss school due to lack of basic sanitary materials. This is a matter of dignity and equal opportunity in education,” he said.
Education officials said the two interventions will help decrease family difficulties which arise from drought while increasing early learning attendance and enrollment throughout the county. Proper nutrition during early life stages is crucial for cognitive development and long-term academic achievements according to their research.
Wajir County parents and teachers approved of the program because they observed how comparable programs previously helped boost school attendance rates while improving student health and increasing parental participation in academic activities.
The county government uses the school meals program and sanitary kits initiative to create a comprehensive drought response plan which protects vital social services especially education from the impacts of climate emergencies.
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