Kaduna extends feeding programme to 3,000 Islamic pupils

As part of ongoing effort to boost school enrolment, the Kaduna state government has extended the school feeding programme to 3,000 Islamic pupils in the state.

The Special Assistant to Governor Uba Sani on school feeding programme, Dr. Fauziya Buhari -Ado made this known on Thursday in a statement in Abuja.

Fauziya disclosed that the exercise held as part of the Eid el-Kabir Sallah celebration took place at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua bilingual primary school situated in Maraban Gonda, Sabongari local council of Kaduna and Islamic Quranic Tsangaya Education (IQTE) situated in Hunkuyi and Zaria parts of the state.

She stated that the government decided to fete the pupils who combine both western and islamic education as part of ongoing effort to ensure that children of the less privileged have access to quality education in the state.

Fauziya further stated that the school feeding programme which has so far cost the state government over N4 billion has boosted school enrolment and retention and stimulated local economy in Kaduna.

She said no fewer than 25,000 school pupils spread across the 23 local councils of Kaduna are already benefiting from the school feeding programme in the state.

Fauziya stated that the event which witnessed the slaughtering of the sacrificial ram, special Eid lunch, cutting of cake and distribution of free gifts provided her the opportunity to interact with the pupils who were before now initially out of school in the state.

An official of one of the Islamic schools, Malam AbdulHamid Ahmed described the school feeding initiative as a welcome development since it has created the enabling environment for vulnerable children to have equal opportunities to acquire education in the state.

He acknowledged that the school feeding programme has impacted positively in a tremendous improvement in pupils’ enrolment in his school.

The village head of Filin Malawa, Magaji Datiya thanked the Governor Sani-led administration for the kind gesture.