Parents have abandoned their children, says Sseninde
The State Minister for Primary Education Ms. Rosemary Seninde serving pupils of Jolly Mercy Primary School during a free lunch programme that was launched at the school premises targeted at feeding a million pupils, the Binance executive director Ms. Athena Yu said this program spends 24,000 USD Annually in Nangabo Parish, Kasangati Wakiso district on 19th Feb,2019. With her (left) is the program Manager of Lunch for Children Ms, Wen Tiam and the Executive Director Binance Blockchain Ms, Athena Yu (center) helping in the serving. The children were given a balanced meal. PHOTO BY RACHEL MABALA
KAMPALA. The State Minister of education in charge of Primary Education, Ms Rosemary Nansubuga Sseninde has cautioned parents against neglecting their children and thinking it is only the responsibility of government to take care of them.
Ms Sseninde said some parents send their children on empty stomachs especially in Universal schools claiming that it is the government’s responsibility to feed them, which she strongly condemns.
“Parents have taken universal schools as a political issue. Parents think the issue of children is the responsibility of government yet parents are the key main stakeholders. Appreciate the need for feeding children because children need to learn. Hunger affects development of the country,” Ms Sseninde said.
The minister made the remarks during the launch of Binance Lunch for children a Chinese program that aims at providing free lunch and breakfast to 1million children in Africa.
Last year, Ms Janet Museveni the first lady and minister of education launched a campaign to sensitise parents and pupils on how to increase children participation in school especially at the primary level.
One of the main problem that came out was the issue of feeding. Parents preferred their children to get food from school but teachers said the latter were not willing to contribute.
Ms Museveni then told schools to stop providing meals to the children and parents were supposed to pack meals for their children.
The directive has since been contested by parents who argue that packing food is unhealthy for children since it may get cold.
Dr James Kimera director of Jolly Mercy Learning Centre said children who study on empty stomachs perform badly in class since most of the time they cannot concentrate when hungry.
At least 250 pupils are to receive free lunch and breakfast under the new Binance Lunch for children program where the beneficiaries are from Jolly Mercy Learning Centre in Kasangati.
Ms Ya Achena the executive director Binance block chain charity foundation, said they aim at helping the children who are unable to cater for their meals.
A guardian identified as Ms Noelina Nassali taking care of eight children said some parents do not care or love to provide food for their own children which forces children to steal.
“I got the eight children from their parents who never cared about them. The parents never gave the children food. This comes about when some parents do not have love for their children and actually do not care,” Ms Nassali said.
Ms Sseninde called upon schools to account for the money from donors in order to attract more programs that help children.
