The pandemic has contributed to the global rise of poverty and hunger. In an attempt to contribute to the well-being of learners, South Africa will soon be joining Finland and other global partners in an international coalition for school feeding.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga engaged in virtual discussions with Ville Skinnari, Finland’s minister of development cooperation and foreign trade, earlier this month.
“Finland, with a group of committed countries and organisations, is launching the international coalition for school feeding in high, middle and low-income countries.
“The coalition has an ambitious vision to work together to significantly upscale the global school feeding programme, targeting 73 million girls and boys living in extreme poverty, as well as the 370 million children affected by school closures due to the pandemic. We want to see a world where every child has the opportunity to access a healthy daily meal in school by 2030.
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“The aim is to improve the quality of school meals and school meal systems globally in a manner tailored to different contexts, sharing international best practices. South Africa, like Finland, has for decades been administering a successful National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP).
“I am, therefore, honoured to invite South Africa as the first country in the Southern African region to join the coalition alongside Finland and other like-minded countries and lead the way for the rest of the African continent.
“We are eager to work with you to launch this coalition successfully at a food system summit to take place later this year,” added Skinnari.
Motshekga said, “The NSNP, which feeds a total of nine million learners daily, aims to enhance the learning capacity of learners in primary and secondary schools through the provision of a healthy daily meal.
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“Where implemented, the programme has improved punctuality, regular school attendance, concentration and the general well-being of participating learners. While learners are being provided with nutritious meals, they are also taught to establish and maintain good eating and lifestyle habits for life.
“Schools are also encouraged to establish food gardens from which they obtain fresh produce to supplement the menu in line with the South African Food-Based Dietary Guidelines. Food is prepared by volunteer food handlers from the community.”
Although the Department of Basic Education (DBE) does not have formal relations with Finland, Motshekga led a delegation to Finland on March 8 and 9, 2018, at the invitation of the minister of education and culture, Sanni Grahn-Laasonen.
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During her visit, the minister visited a day-care centre in line with the continued discussion on early childhood development and Me and My City, a fascinating concept where learners from Grades Six to Nine are taught to belong to a community.
The minister’s delegation also visited the University of Helsinki and the headquarters of the Ministry of Education and Culture.
“The DBE was impressed by the ECD model used by Finland and is looking forward to the signing of a Bilateral Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), defining the strategic goals and a way forward,” concluded Motshekga.
