KZN premier assesses implementation of school nutritional programme

The Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, and KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube on Tuesday, 2 May 2023, to provide an update on the National School Nutrition Programme.

The MEC for Education in KwaZulu-Natal – Mbali Frazer, along with the director-general of the Department of Basic Education – Mathanzima Mweli and KZN head of Department – Nkosinathi Ngcobo also visited local schools to ensure that there was a sufficient supply of food for the next few weeks to feed the pupils.

State of readiness

The monitoring visits were conducted to assess the state of readiness for the implementation of the feeding programme, as thousands of learners returned to school on Tuesday, after an extended weekend.

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Recently, the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) was thrust into the spotlight following challenges experienced earlier last month.

It was reported that food delivery issues caused several pupils in some areas of KwaZulu-Natal to begin the second term of the school year with empty stomachs, as the NSNP was unable to provide meals to schools.

The department said they were facing a number of challenges over the years, including delays in the disbursement of funds, poor quality of food, and lack of proper monitoring and evaluation. These challenges have often resulted in the disruption of the programme, leaving many learners without access to a daily meal.

Addressing the challenges

The visits are expected to provide an opportunity for the minister and premier to address these challenges and provide an update on the steps being taken to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of the programme.

The NSNP is a critical intervention aimed at addressing hunger and malnutrition among learners in South Africa. It provides a daily meal to learners from poor households attending no-fee public schools and has been instrumental in keeping many learners in school.

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The programme is a key component of the South African government’s efforts to address poverty and inequality and ensure access to quality education for all learners. The successful implementation of the programme is critical to the achievement of these goals and the promotion of social justice in the country.