Why learners dread school-food

The Education Times recently visited College Amir Des Effants in Kinyinya and asked students whether they have lunch as expected or whether they skip it for fear of being laughed at by members of the opposite sex. We bring you some of their opinions. Clemence Fifi Polycarp Dufitimana Clemence Fifi I have no shame when it comes to food. I don’t like eating oily food because it may make me fat. However, I would not hesitate going to the dining hall when these boys are looking at me. They mostly make fun when it is porridge time but not lunch. Luckily I don’t take the porridge. Polycarp Dufitimana Skipping school lunch is not an option for me. I always eat my food although my friends always make fun of me. In fact I always invite the shy guys to go with me. People be hungry but just pretend to be of a high status. However let the opposite sex disappear and you will see how people fight for food. Orchide Irakoze Dianah Kihumuro Orchide Irakoze I know feeling shy is normal but sometimes when girls are looking at you it is difficult to pick school lunch. But this cannot stop me from eating. Sometimes I wait for them to disappear then run to the dining hall. But I have friends who don’t pretend. Dianah Kihumuro I skip meals on a number of occasions because I want to keep my body in shape. If you eat a lot, you are likely to put on a lot of unnecessary weight. School life is quite challenging because some times you are hungry and want to eat but your friends discourage you. Queen Akaliza Imanzi Merci Vanessa Queen Akaliza I feel free here but at my former school I used not to go for lunch. And it was not only me. Students did not like the porridge so they used not to go for it. In fact you would be looked at as an outcast. Here it’s the opposite may be because I’m still new. Imanzi Mercie Vanessa S5 I am not very shy when it comes to food. Although some students like showing off I don’t mind school lunch. I have friends who would rather spend days hungry than go to the dining hall. Girls think going hungry makes them look good. Irebe Sun Benitha Fanny Umutoni Irebe Sun Benitha Sometimes I skip porridge and lunch. If the dining is crowded, don’t expect me to go there. If there was an option, I would go without school food. It’s not that the meals are not fine but when you over eat you become fat and no one will admire you. Fanny Umutoni Missing meals due to boys is rare but it happens. Girls want to look good and if you are going to eat anything you are bound to lose out on very many things.