Teachers urged to protect learners as gov't rolls out food support for Siaya candidates

Oluga appealed in Siaya County, where he presided over the launch of a food distribution programme targeting candidates sitting the 2026 Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA).

The initiative is intended to provide candidates with food during the assessment period, as families in the region continue to face the effects of unpredictable rainfall and prolonged dry spells that have disrupted farming activities.

Addressing education officials, teachers, school heads and other stakeholders, Oluga described teachers as influential leaders within their communities, saying their responsibilities go beyond teaching to include mentorship, learner protection and implementation of government programmes.(Education News Kenya — https://educationnews.co.ke/news/teachers-urged-to-protect-learners-as-govt-rolls-out-food-support-for-siaya-candidates)

Drawing from his background as the son of a teacher, the Principal Secretary said he understood the significant contribution educators make to society and their role in helping government initiatives reach communities.

He emphasised that the government was committed to supporting the Ministry of Education and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) in addressing schools’ needs, including adequate staffing, textbooks, classrooms and other essential learning resources.

Oluga said the food distribution exercise would be coordinated by designated teachers and heads of institutions, with the quantities supplied determined by the number of candidates in each school.

The supplies, which include rice, beans and cooking oil, are expected to reach the intended beneficiaries through established distribution arrangements within the county.

He urged teachers entrusted with the exercise to ensure the food is distributed responsibly, allowing candidates to concentrate on their assessments without the additional challenge of inadequate meals.

The Principal Secretary also called on educators to guide learners towards their academic and personal goals while maintaining safe and supportive learning environments.

He raised concern over teenage pregnancies, urging teachers and school administrators to strengthen guidance and mentorship programmes to protect learners and keep them in school.

Oluga further noted that girls who fall pregnant should not be denied the opportunity to continue their education, saying government support had been set aside to facilitate their return to learning institutions.

He also called for greater attention to learners with special educational needs, urging school heads to ensure they receive appropriate support and equal opportunities to participate in education.

On education infrastructure, Oluga said the government had constructed 3,017 classrooms across the six counties in the Nyanza region, including 509 in Siaya County through four phases of implementation.

He urged education stakeholders to ensure that public investment in schools produces meaningful improvements in learning conditions and benefits the wider community.

According to the Principal Secretary, teachers have a crucial responsibility in translating government investment into better educational outcomes by remaining committed to their work and helping learners realise their ambitions.

Turning to healthcare, Oluga encouraged school administrators to assist parents struggling to access services through the Social Health Authority (SHA), particularly when learners require medical attention.

He noted that illnesses can disrupt school attendance and interfere with academic progress, making it necessary for teachers to remain alert to the health challenges affecting their learners.

Among the conditions he highlighted were malaria, tuberculosis, sickle cell anaemia, HIV and AIDS, and cancer. He also cited a reported 31 per cent decline in malaria cases, while stressing the need for continued efforts to address other diseases.

The event was attended by Siaya County Director of Education Rev. Dr Francis Shikanda, HSC, alongside education directors, sub-county officials, teachers' union representatives, civil society organisations and heads of institutions.

Shikanda welcomed Oluga to the county and expressed gratitude to the stakeholders who turned up for the function, acknowledging their participation in the education-focused initiative.

Oluga also conveyed greetings from President William Ruto and the Principal Secretary for Education, recognising the participation of government departments, education officials and teachers' unions. He thanked students who provided entertainment during the event.

Beyond education, the Principal Secretary addressed the effects of erratic weather on farming, noting that some farmers had been forced to plant crops two or three times during the season because of unfavourable rainfall patterns.

With the rains beginning to return, he encouraged residents to use the opportunity productively, including planting fruit trees as a way of supporting agricultural activities.

The food distribution programme was expected to continue through designated collection points in the various sub-counties, where the supplies would be picked up for delivery to schools.

The initiative places learner welfare at the centre of preparations for the national assessments, while highlighting the role of teachers and school administrators in ensuring candidates are adequately supported both inside and outside the classroom.