No food, so hundreds of students are sent home.
10th April 2015
Impeccable sources have told The Guardian that the schools began embarking on the measure late last month after many started running out of food stocks.
The sources, including teachers, added that it was not clearly known when the students would resume classes as it was unclear when the food supply situation would stabilise or improve.The schools with either all or a big number of students back home are Tabora Boys’ and Girls’ secondary schools in Tabora Region, Nsumba Boys’ Secondary School in Mwanza Region, Masasi Girls’ Secondary School and Ndanda High School in Mtwara Region, Kahororo Secondary School in Kagera Region and Songea Boys’ Secondary School in Ruvuma Region .
A Form V student at Ndanda High School who spoke to The Guardian on conditions of anonymity said the students were ordered to return home effective yesterday after the school started experiencing food shortage. According to him, the school headmaster made the announcement asking them to return home as the food in stock was too little to accommodate all of them save for Form VIs who are preparing for their final national examinations due next month.
“I am on my way back home. We have been told to stay home for an indefinite period,” he said, adding that the headmaster has promised to find solution to the matter within a short time.
A teacher at Tabora Girls’ Secondary School who didn’t want her name to be published confirmed that students in the school have been sent home since March 24, 2015 over food shortage.
According to her, the students were sent home to allow the school to use the remaining food stock to feed Form VI students as they are about to sit for their national exams.
“It is almost two weeks now since we suspended classes for our students. We have only remained with Form VI students because they will be sitting for their national examinations next month,” she noted.
The teacher said when the girls were sent home, they were not told the reasons for being ordered to do so. She said, “we told them to go home because the teachers will be busy preparing for the Education Week celebrations”.
Explaining the reason for the prevalence of food shortage, she said that food suppliers have suspended services pending payment of their arrears.
One of the parents, whose children school at Ndanda High School in Mtwara blamed the government for its failure to ensure reliable food supply in the schools. He was concerned that Form V students shall not be able to finish their syllabus as they only have few months to complete their studies.
When contacted for comment Finance Minister Saada Mkuya said she was not aware of the problem.
“You should seek clarification with the Education ministry. I am not aware of food suppliers’ unpaid money … if there is such a case, the responsible ministers would have informed my office,” she said.
Deputy Minister for Education and Vocational Training Anne Kilango Malecela said that such matters are under the Ministry for Regional Administration and Local Government.
Efforts to reach Hawa Ghasia, Minister for Regional Administration and Local Government and her Deputy Kassim Majaliwa proved futile as their mobile phones were switched off.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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