Lack of school feeding program in Younuuri causes decline in school attendance

Mr. Nong Saamana, Chairman of the Parents Association (PA) at the Younuuri D/A Basic School in Jagluu Electoral Area of the Wa West District, has raised concerns about the impact of the absence of a school feeding program on student attendance.

According to Mr. Saamana, the lack of a school feeding program has resulted in low attendance among the students.

He pointed out that whenever the Self-Child Center, an NGO, donates food items to the school, there is a noticeable increase in student attendance. However, as the food supply diminishes, the attendance dwindles as well.

Speaking in an interview with Info Radio in the community, Mr. Nong Saamana added that the irregular presence of teachers at the school also contributes to the decline in student attendance, emphasizing that the children's reluctance to attend school is often linked to the teachers' absence.

In a plea to the government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Mr. Saamana urged for assistance in addressing the urgent need for a sustainable school feeding program to ensure regular access to meals for the students.

Madam Jegbol Maase, a concerned parent, echoed the sentiments, expressing that many children in the community are not attending school due to the lack of a feeding program at the institution.

Another parent, Madam Poggeana Jegbol, voiced worries about the impact of the situation on their children's education and the future of the community.

However, one of the school dropouts, who spoke to Info Radio, attributed their non-attendance to the failure of their parents to provide for their educational needs, revealing the urgency of addressing the broader socio-economic challenges affecting students' participation in education.

The account presented by Mr. Nong Saamana and the concerned parents paints a concerning picture of the adverse effects of the absence of a school feeding program on student attendance and educational outcomes in the community.