Last week Rwanda won six trophies to finish third in the Federation of East Africa Secondary School Sports Association, FEASSA games. During the competition, Kenya scooped 27 medals, 9 of which were gold, followed by Uganda which had 6 gold medals. Furthermore, Rwanda managed to get 13 medals, 6 of which were gold, and Burundi, which was in fourth position gor 5 medals, 3 of which were gold. Tanzania was in the last position with only one gold medal. In other news, the Workforce Development Authority (WDA)embarked on an inspection to take meat processing to another level. The plan that resulted from a Memorandum of Understanding between WDA and Abraham Descendants Ministries to introduce a ‘Master Meat Crafter Training Program’ for 10 trainees was inspected by the WDA chief last week. While visiting the training centre, the Director General of WDA, Jerome Gasana, said the project needed to be strengthened for comprehensive knowledge about meat science and processing norms, considering quality production for both local and regional market. Gasana explained that since the training facility is targeted for employment creation, and a market for meat industry, more training is required for production of quality meat. David Nyangezi Rubango, the executive director of Abraham Descendants Ministries, pointed out that the next step is to recruit 40 trainees and bring new experts who will train alongside the 10 current trainees. Currently, the Remera based vocational meat processing school demonstrates minimum standard requirements for meat handling and processing, and is equipped with modern machines, meat additives and packaging materials. The idea is to take this school to the next level of training, production and making it business oriented. Practical courses offered are related to fresh meats, food safety, meat curing, cooked and emulsified sausage, fermented and cured meat products, among others. In regional news, residents of northeastern counties in Kenya have decried the government’s failure to replace teachers who left their schools early this year. These claim there is an education crisis in Wajir, Garissa and Mandera after teachers failed to report to various schools owing to insecurity. The residents, through seven lobby groups filed an urgent application alleging the Ministry of Education and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) have contravened their rights to access free, basic and compulsory education as set out in the Constitution. The groups include the Haki na Sheria Initiative, the Pastoralist Girls Initiative, Womankind Kenya, Arid Lands Development Focus (Kenya), the Wajir South Development Association, Napad and Racida. Mr Qamar Kassim Yusuf, a programme officer at the Haki na Sheria Initiative, said schools are resuming classes beginning Monday for the third term across the country except for the affected northeastern counties, which lack teachers. Students in the affected counties are expected to sit their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams later in the year. Compiled by Solomon Asaba
