Bomet County has resumed the milk feeding programme for pre-school pupils after a one-week delay caused by the late disbursement of funds from the National Treasury.
In the initiative which is aimed at combating malnutrition and boosting school enrolment and attendance, the county government provides each nursery school pupil with two free packets of milk per week.
Speaking about the delay, the County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Education, Youth, Sports, and Vocational Training, Alice Ngeno, assured the public that the programme was back on track and urged parents to ensure that all the children of the right age were enrolled in respective ECDE centres so as to enable the county government to properly plan for the expected rising number of learners in subsequent school terms.
“We experienced a slight delay in the milk programme due to the late disbursement of funds to counties by the National Treasury. However, we are now back on track and committed to ensuring that the children receive their milk rations without further interruptions,” Ngeno stated.
The free milk programme aims to reduce school dropout rates among young learners. High poverty levels and food insecurity have been identified as key factors contributing to absenteeism in schools, with many families in Bomet County struggling to provide proper nutrition for their children, making such initiatives vital in improving both health and education outcomes in the county.
In Bomet County, the milk feeding programme which was introduced in February 2022, targets approximately 54,000 children in public schools and homes for children with disabilities in the County.
And the programme was introduced in response to alarming malnutrition rates, with statistics indicating that the county’s malnutrition rate stood at 36 per cent, significantly higher than the national average of 26 per cent.
Beyond the milk feeding programme, the county government has also made strides in early childhood education by investing in infrastructure development and teacher training.
CECM Ngeno revealed that during this financial year, 50 new Early Childhood Development (ECD) classrooms have been constructed to provide a conducive learning environment for young pupils as well as retooling for teachers.
“We have constructed 50 new ECD classrooms that will be commissioned in the coming weeks. In addition, we are providing essential learning materials to ensure our children receive quality education from an early age,” she said.
Ngeno also said that the County Education Department was conducting a retooling programme for ECD teachers to equip them with modern teaching techniques in a bid to ensure improved learning experiences for children.
She added that with these efforts, the Bomet County government hoped to enhance education standards and provide young learners with a strong foundation for future academic success.
By Dorcas Nyambura
