By Byamukama Libino
apearlnews.com
The former priest of Kitanga parish in the Kabale diocese Rev .Fr Gaetano Batanyenda has punched holes in the Government’s plan to have parents paying for milk at school to boost the performance of students.
On 6th this month, the assistant Commissioner of Private Schools and Institutions in the Ministry of Education, George Muteekanga, told a joint planning meeting that the new program starts this term in 13 local government schools in Mukono, Kampala and Wakiso and will be out to the rest of the country in January next year.
“The issue of paying for school milk is not my issue, the issue of who pays is the parent. How much does he or she pay for the parent to agree with the schools? All we are saying is let’s have a learner take at least a cup of milk per day,” Mr. Muteekanga said.
He asked the school management committees to ensure that parents participate, contribute and pay.
Mr Muteekanga, however, said parents who are unable to pay through the school should be allowed to give learners money to buy milk from the school canteens during breakfast.
School administrators have been instructed to monitor learners and ensure the feeding objectives are met.
Without delving into details, Ministry of Education officials said the new development would improve the performance of learners, ensure good nutrition and reduce school dropouts.
Addressing the journalists in Kabale town on Friday, the retired parish priest said that even though the Ruling government pretends to be minding much about its people, it gives the people in leadership the first priority and then to the ordinary people as the second Priority.
“They want to first eat before giving the leftovers to its mass.” He added.
He added that many students have not reported back on their respective schools due to the increased school fees which is caused by this economic Crisis where commodity prices have skyrocketed.
Fr.Gaetano adds that it’s so unfortunate that the government is bringing this plan of parents paying for milk when the parents themselves have failed to raise the little school fees they may be paying.
He added that the schools which had over 1000 students have reduced to half of their students due to this economic Crisis.
Gaetano further questioned whether president Museveni, His people in leadership among others took milk while at school and if they never took it, does it mean they are dull?? Is it the reason why they have failed to rule the Nation?
He showed concern on why the government never brought this idea during the covid-19 lock down and why at this time.
He suspected the fall in the price of milk in the areas of Nyabushozi to be the reason why the government wants to sell milk to parents.
“The plan to sell Milk to the students it’s not about the good will of parents and students but on the good will of the milk producers. They want to sell their Milk”
