The absence of a sustainable school feeding programme at two Universal Primary Education schools on Lake Victoria’s islands is contributing to declining enrolment and poor attendance, with many pupils skipping afternoon classes due to hunger.
At Kisima I and Kisima II Primary Schools in Jinja Southern Division, Jinja City, pupils often leave during lunch hours to look for food at home but fail to return for afternoon lessons.
School authorities say enrolment at Kisima II has dropped from about 300 pupils to fewer than 200, while daily attendance has fallen to less than 70 learners a day from P.1 to P.7.
Teachers attribute the decline to lack of meals. They recall attendance was much higher years ago when a non-governmental organisation provided food.
‘When the programme ended, many children gradually lost interest in attending school because food was no longer available,’ a teacher said.
The concerns were raised during a visit by a security team led by Paul Balidawa, Assistant Resident City Commissioner for Jinja Southern Division, who toured the islands on Tuesday to assess challenges faced by pupils, parents and teachers.
Mr Balidawa expressed concern over the low turnout and the unusually quiet school environment, particularly during lunchtime.
Stephen Tabu, headteacher of Kisima II Primary School, said the administration has repeatedly engaged parents on providing adequate meals, but little progress has been made.
‘We have talked to parents about ensuring their children have enough food before and during school hours, but many have not taken the matter seriously,’ Mr Tabu said.
He noted that some parents send children to school expecting the institution to provide all necessities despite UPE schools not receiving funding for feeding programmes.
‘Most of the pupils go home expecting to find something to eat, but many households have no food available. As a result, they do not return for afternoon lessons,’ he added.
Mr Tabu observed that some UPE schools have successfully introduced feeding programmes through contributions agreed upon by School Management Committees and Parent-Teacher Associations, creating a more conducive learning environment.
A teacher at Kisima II who requested anonymity said attempts to encourage parents to contribute towards school meals are often met with resistance.
‘Many parents insist that education under UPE is completely free. They do not understand that feeding their children is their responsibility,’ the teacher said. The teacher added that low pupil attendance makes effective teaching difficult. ‘What can teachers do when fewer than 100 pupils are present and can be managed by less than three teachers?’ the teacher asked.
A lunchtime visit revealed fewer than half of learners return for afternoon classes. Some boys reportedly spend the rest of the day fishing on the lake instead of returning to school.
At Kisima I Primary School, headteacher Scovia Nabwire raised similar concerns, blaming parents for failing to provide basic scholastic materials, school uniforms and meals.
‘Many parents here neither have the means nor fully appreciate the value of education. Some never attended school themselves and expect their children to follow the same path, without realizing that times have changed,’ Ms Nabwire said.
She also raised concerns about sanitation, saying community members increasingly use school toilets, leading to rapid filling of facilities and fears of disease outbreaks. ‘Our sanitation facilities are under pressure, and if nothing is done, the risk of disease outbreaks will increase,’ she warned.
Teachers on the islands also complained they do not receive hardship or risk allowances they are entitled to for working in hard-to-reach areas. Ms Nabwire said many teachers fear speaking out because complaints can result in transfers.
School administrators are now appealing to parents, local leaders and development partners to support the establishment of a sustainable school feeding programme to improve attendance, retention and academic performance.
Meanwhile, Josephine Mirembe, a parent at Kisima II, said the economic situation of many families has worsened due to restrictions affecting fishing on Lake Victoria.
‘Many parents inherited fishing from their fathers and relatives and depended on it as their main source of income. They never expected the industry to become so difficult. Today, life has changed and many families are struggling to provide for their children,’ Ms Mirembe said.
She urged government and development partners to support vulnerable families and schools on the islands to ensure children remain in school and complete their education.