9th October, 2017
Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) on Monday said that Federal Government’s free school feeding programme had helped reduce absenteeism by pupils in the state.
Director for Social Mobilization in the Board, Alhaji Mohammed Maikudi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi that the sumptuous meals served under the programme, also triggered increase in enrollment by 36 per cent in the 2016/2017 academic session.
He said that Education Secretaries from various local government areas in the state confirmed that pupils that had hitherto not been regular in attending schools, had changed their attitudes towards learning.
“Although the feeding was implemented for only one term, our Education Secretaries confirmed that absenteeism reduced during the period.
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“They said that lots of new faces that had been previously enrolled but hardly attended classes became regular pupils.
“We earlier went round to monitor resumption in schools and the turnout was impressive.
“We are happy that the enrollment drive has impacted on our parents because we recorded 36 percent increase in enrollment of pupils in schools.
“We appreciate our community leaders for their support and the campaign will continue to ensure that children go to school,’’ he said.