ARUSHA: FOOD availability in schools across the Arusha Region has continued to improve, with about 80 percent of students now receiving lunch while at school, as parents and guardians have been urged to contribute food for their children in order to reach 100 percent coverage.
The call was made in Arusha City by the Acting Regional Education Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Maundo, during a multi-sectoral experts’ meeting on the implementation of the Integrated Early Childhood Development Programme. The meeting aimed to evaluate the region’s six-month performance from July to December 2025.
Mr Maundo said the 80 percent achievement is a result of joint efforts by the government and private stakeholders to ensure that children receive meals at school, thereby improving their concentration and academic performance.
He also urged parents and guardians who have been reluctant to contribute food to do so for the benefit of their children’s health and education.
“Some parents and guardians are unwilling to contribute food at school
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This not only affects children’s health but also their academic progress. It is not fair for a child to stay hungry while others are eating. This challenge also affects teachers who care for them,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Regional Programme Coordinator, Mr Denisi Mgiye, said the meeting brought together experts from various sectors, including education, health, planning, community development, social welfare, nutrition, and non-governmental organizations dealing with child growth and development in Arusha Region
He explained that the purpose of the meeting was to assess the implementation of the programme for the period between July and December 2025.
“The goal of Arusha Region is to ensure that a child grows in a safe environment from pregnancy, through the first 1,000 days after birth, and into adolescence, with full physical, mental, and overall well-being.”