Kaduna pupils desert schools after eating free meals

Kaduna State Government, yesterday, expressed concern over the desertion of schools by primary school pupils after taking the free meal offered them. The pupils have developed the habit of leaving school immediately after the free meal under the guise of going to drink water.

Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Shehu Adamu, told newsmen in Kaduna that government was disturbed by the situation. He appealed to parents to ensure that children remain in school after taking their free meals, so as not to jeopardise the programme.

Adamu said that parents must also ensure that no child returned home until closing hours, “otherwise the aim would be defeated.” The commissioner stressed that the programme was introduced to encourage school enrolment, attendance and retention.

He said: “The main goal of the school feeding programme is to attract out-of-school children to school and keep them in class for them to acquire education and better their lives.

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