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Tanzania: Look for WFP Food Substitute, Schools Told
Posted: 23 May 2010 12:32 PM PDT
Primary schools in the central zone now enjoying free meals under the World Food Programme (WFP), have been urged to start looking for alternative ways should donors decide to withdraw their support.
The challenge was thrown by a delegation from Dodoma Region, at the end of its two-day study tour of Singida District primary schools receiving free food from WFP.
The delegation included District Commissioners, District Executive Directors and education officials from Bahi, Chamwino, Kondoa and Mpwapwa.
Leader of the delegation, Mr Lephy Gembe ( Chamwino DC), cautioned on too much dependence on foreign aid, saying WFP’s presence would not remain for ever and efforts should be made to change the mindsets of those waiting for free food.
“Let us start looking for alternative ways so that when donors pull out, the programme will not be affected,” Mr Gembe advised.
Anything given for free is not always good as it makes the beneficiary complacent, forgetting that one day the donor will be gone.
“Don’t be carried away by this food assistance. WFP will not be there for good. You must look for alternative ways,” Mr Gembe pleaded with the school authorities.
The delegation also emphasized on large-scale tree planting to curb deforestation and conserve the environment. Members of the delegation further called on the schools to harvest rain water.
Head of the UN-WFP sub-office, Central Zone, Ms Nima Sitta said more than 600,000 pupils from 16 districts in Dodoma, Manyara, Shinyanga and Singida were now enjoying the services of the programme, started way back in 2000.
According to Nima, the programme kicked off with a mere 200,000 pupils from 350 primary schools and now it has stretched its wings to more than 1,160 schools.
Nima said apart from improving children’s health, the programme has helped improve school attendance, pass rate and has enhanced enrolment.
Meanwhile, DCs – Ms Betty Mkwasa and Daria Rwegasira for Bahi and Mpwapwa respectively, were not happy with the school employment authorities, accusing them of ‘foul play’ when recruiting cooks, saying the gender balance policy was being ignored.
Their remarks follow an observation that most cooks in schools visited were men.
Source: ABBY NKUNGU, Tanzania Daily News
