Dar es Salaam, Feb. 3 -- NOW that the hustle and bustle of the new school year is behind us, it is time to focus on what truly matters: Keeping our students healthy, engaged and ready to learn. And what better way to do that than through a robust school feeding programme?

It is time for the government to step up and take the lead in ensuring that every student has access to nutritious meals, because, let us face it, hungry students do not exactly make the best learners. In this, let us start with the big players-our esteemed government officials.

The moment is now! Students have settled into their classrooms, pencils are sharpened and textbooks are ready for action. But here is the thing: Without food in their bellies, none of that matt...