CI-NEWS

“We provide daily meals to over 84,000 pupils”

2020-08-03

No: 519

“We provide daily meals to over 84,000 pupils”

Dr Njakoi Henry, Country Director, Nascent Solutions Incorporated Cameroon.

Why did Nascent Solutions reward primary school teachers in the East, Adamawa and North Regions this week?

Some 148 teachers from 148 schools in the three regions were on July 23, 2020 recognised for their excellent services during the 2019/2020 academic year. This is part of our five-year McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition programme funded by the United States Department for Agriculture, USDA, which is worth 27 million US dollars (15.2 billion FCFA). The programme runs from 2018 to 2023 and aims amongst others to improve literacy in the early age group; that is, for pupils in the first three years of primary school.

What did the recipient teachers get for such recognition?

There was a paper recognition or attestation for outstanding services. In addition, the winning teachers will be given books and other study material and privileged capacity building to spur other teachers to also work hard. This was the first time we were organizing the outstanding teacher performance award ceremonies in these three regions. Henceforth, it will be an annual event. This is one of the strategies to encourage teachers to ensure that pupils remain in school and their learning needs met.

What of their schools? Do they not receive something in return?

The schools are already involved, having been selected for us - based on their different needs - by the Ministry of Basic Education. In collaboration with Parent-Teacher Associations, PTAs, these schools receive support from us such as the development of school gardens and construction of classrooms, hand-washing stations, modern latrines, boreholes, kitchens and food stores. Selected parents prepare meals for the pupils each school day.

The provision of food encourages pupils from poor communities to regularly attend classes.

We also offer stationery to teachers and needy pupils.

Other teachers who also did well will be recognized and encouraged when schools reopen. This year we are drilling 10 boreholes in 10 schools, five in the North, three in Adamawa and two in the East Regions. We train PTA members on management to make their schools profitable. We encourage parents to save money during harvest in order to prepare their children for school reopening and also support the efficient management of school resources to deliver quality education.

School gardens produce nutritious crops that supplement the donated food used in feeding pupils.

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“We provide daily meals to over 84,000 pupils”