The Kaduna State Government says about 40 per cent of pupils enrolled in public schools attend classes because of its free school feeding programme, describing the initiative as a key tool for tackling the out-of-school children crisis.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Uba Sani on the School Feeding Programme, Fauziya Buhari-Ado, disclosed this in a statement on Friday after receiving an Award of Excellence in Education Advancement from the Education Correspondents Association of Nigeria.
She said the state government introduced free education and school feeding as part of efforts to increase school enrolment, particularly among Almajiri and other vulnerable children.
According to Buhari-Ado, Governor Uba Sani’s administration identified the need for urgent education reforms to address the growing number of out-of-school children and improve access to basic education.
She noted that insecurity and the prevalence of the Almajiri system in northern Nigeria made it necessary to implement measures that would encourage children to remain in school.
Buhari-Ado said monitoring visits to schools showed that the feeding programme had become a major incentive for enrolment and attendance.
“About 40 per cent of the children attending school are there because of the food,” she said, adding that school principals, parents, and pupils had consistently acknowledged the impact of the programme.
She credited the initiative with improving school attendance, reducing absenteeism, and enhancing the welfare of children across the state.
The governor’s aide also praised the state government’s investments in education infrastructure, free basic education, teacher support, and other social protection programmes aimed at improving learning outcomes.
According to her, the school feeding programme remains a central component of the state’s strategy to increase enrolment, retain pupils in classrooms, and reduce the financial burden on low-income families.
(The Whistler)