DILI, 8 november, 2021 (TATOLI)- Ministry of Education Youth and Sports together with World Food Programme (WFP) and Chinese Embassy inaugurated the School fact sheet of Manleuana Junior High school to help recover the public school infrastructure including the school garden that has been damaged during the April four flood.
WFP Country Director Dangen Liu said this program is a pilot program to help the return the activities of flood-affected schools to normal.
“WFP is committed to improve the school factsheet composed of the school garden, kitchen, yard and providing clean water for the student. This program aims to provide the student with nutritive foods and clean water and even a clean environment for the student to access,” Dageng Liu said in his remarks at basic central school Manleuana Comoro, 8 November, this Monday.
Minister of Education Youth and sport, Armindo Maia appreciates the partnership between the Timor-Leste government with the WFP and China Embassy, saying this program is important for students and helps the students to improve their knowledge and health in the process of learning.
“This country has recorded the highest rate of malnutrition, 40% of the population are suffering from stunting and hunger. WFP support within providing food fortification and establish the school garden as well as Kitchen to ensure the students can access for the school feeding program,” The Minister of Education Youth and sport told to reports at Manleuana basic central school.
Maia considered the program is a functional program that contributes to reducing malnutrition, particularly for the students.
At the same time, Maia called on all the school principals to effectively manage the items that have been supported by the donators Chinese Embassy and WFP, saying these items will be useful for the students to increase their knowledge for using the school tools.
According to the plan, the program will be expanded to other municipalities such as Manleuana, Levotun, Metinaru, Dalrlau, and Laulara.
At the same place, the WFP and China offered several school materials for the referring school. the material is a basketball, face masker, 25 pieces of desktops for the Pilot project.
The School Director, Rosa Autan said the Basic central school is lacking infrastructure and other materials associated with the learning process, therefore, Autan thanked the support from the partners and encourages students to be active participate effectively in the school learning activity.
It is known that covid-19 has affected 191 countries around the world and a total of 370 million students have stopped their teaching and learning process. Thus 24 million students did not return to school, affected girls, and contributed to early marriage and child labor, as they are most vulnerable.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
