School Canteens In Bikok Council: Better Enrolment, Attendance, Bonding Amongst Pupils

Tuesday, November 25, 2025: Times have changed. Truly changed in Bikok Council area in Mefou and Akono Division of Centre Region. Thanks to three main reasons. The introduction of a project that attracts children to school and assures their regular attendance of classes. The technical and financial support of foreign development partners. And perhaps the most crucial – the strong support and encouragement of the local council authorities.

Since 2023
Introduced in 2023 in Oman II village, the Home-Grown School Feeding project with Plan International Cameroon as technical partner and the World Food Programme, WFP as financial partner, is growing in leaps and bounds. This school year (2025-2026), the project was extended to four schools in Bikok town - Government Schools Groups I and II, Government Bilingual Primary School and Government Bilingual Nursery School - all located in Bikok. With overall enrolment skipping from just over 400 at the same time last school year to 546 pupils in November 2025.

Addressing School Enrolment, Attendance 
“The Home-grown School Feeding project came to Bikok Council because approached the World Food Programme, presenting the problem of low school enrolment and attendance rates. Even when parents enrolled their children, it was long after the new school year had started because the children first had to work on their farms,” explains Rosalie Machekam, Plan International Cameroon’s Focal Point for the Home-Grown School Feeding project in Bikok Council area.

The Magic Of Free Meals
“Now, the situation has changed after the introduction of the project. Pupils now come to school early, are regular in class and remain alert in class because of the free meals they are offered. The teachers are certain that First Term examinations will see greater improvements than in the past,” Rosalie acknowledges - wide a grin of fulfilment. 

Already Lining Up To Apply 
“The school canteen experiences in Oman II and now Bikok are attracting much interest from other communities in the council area. Many of such communities are already lining up to apply to Plan International and the World Food Programme to extend the project to their communities. Because they have seen it all – the school meals, school gardens, community farms for supplying food for feeding pupils, the construction of school kitchens…,” says a proud Mayor of Bikok, Mrs. Ottou Crescence.

1,000 Quality Meals Everyday 
So far, some 1,000 pupils in Oman II and Bikok Centre enjoy free meals every school day. While the project only began in Bikok Centre this school year, the case of Oman II dates back to 2023, she discloses. “Through the project, pupils learn hands-on by watching how meals are prepared for them and how to grow the crops and vegetables that are used in preparing their meals. 

More Project Dividends 
“Another dividend of the project is the promotion of the spirit of living together in harmony and understanding. What is happening in Bikok Council area deserves to be shared with other councils in Cameroon. Because little children eat and share together in school, the spirit of living together or brotherhood is fostered right from childhood. When the children become adults, they will find no difficulties in living and working with people from other tribes and backgrounds,” Mayor Ottou notes with a sense of firm conviction. 

With World Food Programme Support 
“The World Food Programme decided to sponsor the school feeding programme in Bikok Council area for a number of reasons. First, we found that the rate of school absenteeism was very high in the subdivision, and there were also cases of malnutrition amongst school children. Secondly, WFP was encouraged by the strong commitment of the community and the support of the Mayor Ottou Crescence. We began in Oman II in 2023 and this school year extended the project to Bikok Centre,” recalls Youssouf Kaba of the World Food Programme, WFP Cameroon.

Plan International Technical Backstopping 
Kaba notes since basic education is devolved to local councils under Cameroon’s decentralization process, Bikok Council has been so supportive of the project. “The mayor has helped in mobilizing resources for the construction of school kitchens. Alongside Plan International Cameroon, WFP sponsors another school feeding project in Adamawa region. The project is due to last until 2026. The school feeding and related projects run by Plan International Cameroon are worth 1.5 million US dollars each year.” Kaba discloses.

For Future Responsible Citizens 
According to Mrs. Etoundi Constance of the Centre Regional Delegation for Basic Education recalls that the vision of the Ministry of Basic Education is for school canteens to help attract pupils to enrol in school and attend classes regularly. And after completing school, they should become responsible citizens in their jobs.

Home-grown Feeding Project 
Apart from offering pupils quality free meals at midday each school day, the Home-Grown School Feeding project has other key components. Such as the construction of school kitchens, cultivation by pupils of their own crops and vegetables in school gardens. Meanwhile, community women run a common farm from which the produce is sold through a specially created cooperative to prepare meals for p...