There is an urgent need for all schools to embrace feeding programs in a bid to eradicate malnutrition that often reduces the capability of learners from concentrating and participating in class.

Zetech University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Njenga Munene regretted that even in the current era, most children across the country miss classes as a result of food shortage with most of them going to school on an empty stomach.

Munene also observed that if institutions of higher learning are training teachers, they have a responsibility to ensure that learners are learning in a conducive environment.

“There is no point of sending teachers to teach underfed and malnourished learners because these teachers will not be able to deliver their mandate,” he said.

He made the remarks in the wake of revelations that 29 percent of Kenyan children in rural areas and 20% in urban areas struggle with malnutrition, while 23 million go to school on an empty stomach.

According to a survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), malnutrition and hunger reduce the capability of learners to concentrate and participate in class while schools that struggle with a poor feeding program experience poor enrolment and learning disruptions due to skipping of classes by learners.

Speaking at Kabui Primary School in Tharaka Nithi County where the university donated cooking boilers and financial aid to kickstart a feeding program, the VC further noted the need for schools to be keen on the nutritional value of the foods that learners consume stating that malnutrition can cause chronic illnesses among such children.

“As the Zetech family, we are driven by purpose and empowerment. If our existence has no impact on this community, then we will have failed. It is important for us to ensure that learners do not attend classes on empty stomachs, because this affects their productivity in class,” he said.

Speaking after the donation, Kabui Primary School Headmistress, Esther Kithinji, noted that poor feeding programs at the public institution had resulted in school absenteeism and a deteriorating performance in the exams.

“I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Zetech family for being a fortress and an anchor in the society. We have been having dietary issues and this makes it hard for our students to be in school as it affects teaching and learning at the school. Through the initiative by Zetech, we are now confident that the students will have a reason to smile as we continue to empower them and give them healthy meals at school so that they concentrate and perform well in their education,” Kithinji said.