The Kaduna State Government has disclosed that about 40 per cent of pupils currently enrolled in public schools are attending due to the state’s free school feeding initiative, underscoring its impact on tackling the out-of-school children crisis.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Uba Sani on the School Feeding Programme, Fauziya Buhari-Ado, made this known in a statement on Friday after receiving an Award of Excellence in Education Advancement from the Education Correspondents Association of Nigeria.
She described the programme as a critical intervention designed to boost school enrolment and retention, particularly among Almajiri pupils and other vulnerable children.
Buhari-Ado explained that the administration identified early on that addressing the high number of out-of-school children required urgent reforms anchored on free education and school feeding policies.
According to her, the government deliberately prioritised children’s welfare under the leadership of Governor Uba Sani, implementing targeted measures to ensure more children are enrolled in school and remain there.
She noted that insecurity and the widespread Almajiri system in northern Nigeria influenced the decision to strengthen policies aimed at protecting children from street life and integrating them into formal education.
Buhari-Ado emphasised that free meals, alongside free education, have proven effective in keeping children in classrooms, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Drawing from monitoring visits across schools, she said feedback from principals, parents and pupils indicates that the feeding programme has become a major incentive for attendance.
She stated that many parents confirmed their children would not be in school without the provision of meals, adding that direct interactions with beneficiaries further reinforced the programme’s impact.
The aide credited the success of the initiative to the state government’s broader education reforms, noting improvements in attendance rates, reduced absenteeism and better welfare outcomes for pupils.
She also highlighted ongoing investments in school infrastructure, social protection schemes and human capital development as part of efforts to strengthen the education sector.
The Kaduna State Government has prioritised reducing the number of out-of-school children through a combination of free basic education, improved facilities, teacher support and the school feeding programme.
Experts in the education sector have consistently identified school feeding as an effective strategy for increasing enrolment, reducing hunger and improving participation in classrooms, particularly in low-income communities.
In northern Nigeria, where poverty and insecurity continue to disrupt education, the initiative is increasingly seen as a practical tool for drawing children into schools and sustaining their attendance.
Source: Punch Newspaper
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