Provide food for pupils in school, MP tells gov’t

Laikipia County Women Representative Jane Apollos has called on stakeholders to look into ways of addressing critical issues affecting children from slum areas in the region to ensure they don’t drop out of school.

Speaking in Thama Primary School on Tuesday while issuing sanitary towels and balls to pupils, Apollos said that over and above issuing sanitary pads in schools, the children’s basic needs have to be satisfied because many of come from underprivileged families and cannot afford crucial needs, leading to a majority of them dropping from school.

She challenged the government to consider enhancing alternative ways of ensuring that such children are retained in school through provision of the School Feeding Programs (SFP).

“I want to tell the government that giving the school going children from slums sanitary towels will not help because these children lack food and water. The stakeholders should consider enhancing the SFP initiative in schools in Laikipia County, especially because the region is hardest hit by drought and high poverty levels,” said Apollos.

The legislator further said that there are large sections of society that are deprived of basic education, adding that it was the government’s duty to step in and share resources with those who are in need of help.

The pupils on their part called on stakeholders and other well-wishers help them complete their education and compete favourably with other pupils.

By Peter Mwangi