This was said by Edward Mosuwe of district 9 in the Department of Education at Mc Weiler Primary School when Tiger Brands distributed 17 000 food parcels to schoolchildren and their families for their food security during the holidays.
Thanking the company Mosuwe said the company’s initiative contributed to the department’s vision of ensuring the continuity of feeding schoolchildren even during the holidays.
“The aim of the vision is to ensure children are nourished all the time so that they can maintain healthy bodies and avoid antisocial behaviour and… substance abuse to ward off their misery,” he said.
The school feeding scheme is part of government’s effort to improve school attendance and learning by needy children in many schools. Dr Faith Khumalo, also of the Education Department, said a significant amount of money was allocated to the school feeding programme annually, and this year, R5 billion has been allocated and was providing 9.2 million meals to needy children daily.
“The meals, which comprise breakfast and lunch, contribute significantly to children’s learning as they give them energy for concentration. This effort by government should be appreciated,” she said.
The school governing body chairperson Thandi Mahlangu added that before the feeding scheme was introduced, many children could not concentrate in class because of empty stomachs and this lead to absenteeism.
Some recipients expressed appreciation to Tiger Brands’ food donation, saying it would relieve them from worrying as it would make them food secure for the three weeks of holiday.
