Govt launches school feeding programme

Reason Razao Herald Reporter—
Government yesterday launched the Home Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP) for Harare at Tashinga Primary School in Mabvuku. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is spearheading the programme aimed at providing at least one balanced meal for pupils at primary level.Speaking at the launch, Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education Dr Sylvia Utete-Masango said, “Provision of school meals is one of the most effective direct interventions in the health of our learners, situating our schools as places to promote education and nutrition.”

She emphasised the importance of the HGSFP saying that other countries had instituted the scheme as an essential tool for development and growth of children.

The African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government, at this year’s 26th summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, declared March 1, Africa Day of School Feeding, in recognition of the immense value of Home Grown School Feeding in enhancing retention and performance of children in schools.

“The benefits of investing in school feeding also linked to Sustainable Developmental Goal four, are that it provides a powerful institutional market and can produce impacts in the local supply chain and benefit communities.

“The World Food Programme also noted that by using school meals as an entry point, we are able to contribute to improved education, food and nutrition security, health and has overall impacts in dressing social safety net.” Recent researches have shown that providing in-school balanced meal increases the learner’s ability to concentrate and perform specific tasks.

“School feeding therefore, does not only fill the child’s stomach, but has a proven track record of boosting enrolment rates, attendance and learning, reducing absenteeism and improving overall levels of country and human development,” said Dr Utete-Masango.

She said that food was a moral right to everyone and that as a Ministry responsible for Basic Education, they could not think of any issue that was more important than to eradicate hunger among children.

Dr Utete-Masango added: “It is therefore pleasing to note that the HGSFP that will positively impact on over three million primary school learners. This entails scaling up school feeding in order to enhance children’s learning capacities thereby guaranteeing completion of their studies.”

All provincial primary schools are expected to supply at least one balanced meal a day to feed the pupils. The programme is expected to be extended to high schools in future.

You Might Also Like

Comments

Take our Survey

We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey