Soya Milk Improving Leaner’s Turnout
Soya Milk Improving Leaner’s Turnout At Masangano Junior Primary School
Masangano Junior Primary School in Malumo village, T/A Malumo in Ntchisi district had been experiencing number of school dropouts and this worried the head teacher for the school Mr. Andrew Kalikuni.
According to Mr. Kalikuni, at the beginning of 2015-2016 academic calendar, the school registered 106 pupils for class of Standard 1, but on average he said only 50 to 60 students were coming to school and attending classes.
“Now the classes are full, student’s likes to be in class” says Mr. Kalikuni
One of the reasons that has improved the turnout of learners at the school particularly in standard 1 and 2 is the provision of milk to learners every morning.
The milk provision began in 2016 after mother group members at Masangano school were trained by DAPP on how to make milk out of soya beans. They were also trained on making jam, juice and Mbaula.
Now mother group members are providing milk to pupils in junior class everyday during break time. This milk is not only helping the learners to take away hunger but also it is so nutritious, best for health of these learners.
“We take the milk to school for pupils to drink so that they stop complaining of being hungry while learning” says a chairperson for Masangano mother group, Agnes Kaliati
Kaliati says mothers have seen a change since milk became part of break time drink for the pupils at the school. She said their children have stopped running away from class and go home early to fetch food.
“They love to go to school because they know that they will miss milk if they dare to stay home.” Adds Kaliati
Masangano junior primary school has a total 316 pupils and the school head teacher boasts that with the leaner friendly environment at the school like playground and milk, there is possibility that his school will continue to register a lot of new students.
