The Sunday News
Lungile Tshuma and Lynnia Ndlovu in Gwanda
THE Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education will from next term start its feeding programme which has been budgeted at $109 million, as Government moves to address hunger which has seen some pupils withdrawing from school in some rural areas.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Ministry’s curriculum outreach programme in Gwanda yesterday, the Minister, Dr Lazarus Dokora said part of the $1,5 billion which the Government appealed to mitigate drought will be channeled towards the school feeding programme.
“As the ministry we presented our position paper to Cabinet on how we aim to address drought. Our position was approved by Cabinet. However, before implementing what we have agreed, the situation became worse and the President had to declare it a national disaster. This therefore means that the feeding programme has to start sooner,” said Dr Dokora.
“The Government is working hard to mobilise the $1,5 billion for drought relief. My ministry will need $109 million for the feeding scheme and the fund will come from the $1,5 billion which we are optimistic that we will mobilise. We are also going to ask for parents’ services in the form of cooking and other activities that will come along with the programme. Schools should start setting up clean kitchens and a secure storage in preparation of the programme and we are confident that parents will do so because their support has been overwhelming.”
He also added that the ministry has set up feeding committees from national to district level. The outreach programme was attended by school heads, teachers and school development association committees.
Dr Dokora reiterated that the ministry was no longer accepting unqualified teachers.
“Nobody should be deployed to the Ministry of Education if he is not a qualified teacher,” he said.
He pledged that the Government will work hard in improving teachers’ conditions especially those in rural areas. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Dr Sylvia Utete-Masango encouraged parents and teachers to support the ministry in implementing the new curriculum.
