CHIPILI district has recorded over 40 percent increase in school enrollment and attendance, following government’s introduction of the school feeding programme in various schools in the district.

ZANIS reports that District Education Standards Officer (DESO), Mike Mulenga has disclosed this saying most vulnerable children who could have stayed away from school are now back in class.

Mr Mulenga explained that the programme facilitates provision of one cooked meal to each vulnerable child before class daily, explaining that the initiative has seen most children back in school without needing to pressure them.

“There is an increase in the pupil enrollment and attendance in the district since the introduction of the School Health Nutrition programme in the district, this is a positive impact especially that we have had school dropouts due to a lot of factors.” Mr Mulenga said.

And Mung’anga Primary School Head Teacher, Albert Mwewa, has commended government for introducing the programme in the district. 

Mr Mulenga stated that the programme has not only boosted enrollment and school attendance but also afforded vulnerable children access to education.

“We are given beans, maize and cooking oil by the government, this programme has brought together children from different walks of life,” Mr Mulenga said. 

He added that in order to sustain the feeding programme, the school is also supplementing government’s support by procuring other types of relish such as sausage and kapenta utilising resources from its production unit.