Hundreds of children in West Pokot schools have dropped out of school due to hunger, as leaders call for the revival of the school feeding programme which used to be undertaken by the World Food Program, where food aid was given to schools in arid regions.
A survey in most schools showed that there is a general drop in enrollment in schools within the county following the devastating hunger as many children have moved elsewhere with their parents, some to neighbouring Uganda in search of food, water and pasture.
The worst hit areas are North Pokot and Central Pokot. More than 70,000 children risk dropping out of school and more than 150 schools may be affected.
Kases Primary school head teacher Mr Josephat Egwatt said on average, 10-15 percent of students aged 10-14 in the area drop out every year before completing primary school. “Our school had more than 138 pupils and right now we have less than 100. Kiwawa ward is the most affected,” he said.
Egwatt said that if the current situation continues it will be impossible to increase enrolment in schools.
Egwatt said the problem is worse for girl students who, after dropping out of school, either get married or start working at an early age to cater for themselves and their families.
“Until there is enough food or there is an improvement with their situation, many children will continue being out of school,” he said.
Area leaders led by West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin and senator John Lonyangapuo wondered why the program was suspended during this duration when drought has been declared a national disaster.
Mr. Kachapin reiterated that food shortage in the whole county has reached alarming levels forcing learners in both primary and secondary school to stay away and help their parents to search for food.
“Absenteeism in schools is higher because of the food crisis. Food shortage has always been the reason for poor attendance in schools,” said Kachapin. He said parents are unable to produce sufficient food, and cannot afford to buy food for their children either.
The leaders called on donors to help distribute food in schools to address the hunger crisis in the region.
“Pupils here are suffering. We as a county government, we are distributing food but it is not enough,” he said.
He said that the situation could lead to poor results in the examinations because of pupils are not concentrating in class.Speaking in Kacheliba, the
Speaking in Kacheliba, the leaders cautioned head teachers in the county not to send children home due to unpaid school fees.
“Food is what makes children stay in school. We need to retain them in school by providing food for them so that they can study like other children in other agricultural rich areas,” said Lonyangapuo. He appealed to the government to intervene and salvage the situation.