Youths urge govt to roll out school feeding schemes

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THE National Youth Development Trust (NYDT), a youth-based civic society organisation, has called on government to urgently roll out a schools-based feeding programme in Matabeleland region amid reports that thousands of children were skipping class due to hunger.

THE National Youth Development Trust (NYDT), a youth-based civic society organisation, has called on government to urgently roll out a schools-based feeding programme in Matabeleland region amid reports that thousands of children were skipping class due to hunger.

BY NQOBANI NDLOVU

Education officials in Matabeleland were quoted in the State media over the weekend saying over 6 000 children had dropped out of school due to hunger, while others were evidently failing to concentrate on their lessons.

School-children-whose-parents-now-live-in-Chingwizi-settlment-doing-their-lessons-under-a-shade-some-distance-away-from-the-settlement

The officials said as a result, they had allowed schools in the region to adjust their timetables and knock off early.

The NYDT said this called for urgent intervention on the part of government to allow students to enjoy their constitutional right to food and education.

“The figures are not only alarming, but also an indication of a national disaster warranting immediate action by the State.

By virtue of students dropping out of school due to hunger, their constitutional rights to food and education have been violated. The Government of Zimbabwe has a duty to respect, protect and fulfil all her citizens’ constitutional rights.

“We further call for a schools-based feeding programme which is an urgently needed intervention and will ensure that all students immediately return to school. Given that the farming season has come, we further call upon government to consider providing farming inputs to deserving families in a transparent and pro-poor manner,” the NYDT said in a statement yesterday.

Severe food shortages have reportedly stalked thousands of villagers in rural Matabeleland, raising fears that the situation might force some female students to enter into early marriages.

“Lack of access to food and education has long-term effects. Hunger breeds vulnerability, particularly so for the girl child who may be forced into early marriages, while boys may be forced into child labour so as to fend for their families,” NYDT warned.

“When thousands of students drop out of school due to hunger, the Matabeleland region is condemned to perpetual poverty and the consequences are national. Matabeleland has glaring developmental gaps and education is an avenue through which local children and young people can be sustainably empowered.”