The Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education has announced a renewed commitment to strengthening the school feeding programme across public schools. This move is expected to benefit thousands of learners who rely on school meals as a vital source of daily nutrition.
Minister Nono Kgafela-Mokoka confirmed that while the programme remains a priority for the ministry, there have been challenges affecting its consistent implementation. In some schools, the inability to provide meals has been linked to the unavailability of seasonal foods, while in others, funding shortfalls have made it difficult to sustain regular feeding.
“We are aware of the disruptions in certain areas, and we are taking deliberate steps to resolve them,” said Kgafela-Mokoka. She added that the ministry is working closely with partners in agriculture and finance to ensure that both food supplies and funding remain stable throughout the academic year.
The school feeding programme plays a critical role in supporting education outcomes. For many learners, particularly those from vulnerable communities, a school meal may be the most substantial meal of the day. When feeding programmes falter, it can directly impact attendance and concentration levels in the classroom.
The ministry is exploring several strategies to improve the resilience of the programme. These include investing in community-based gardens, improving logistics for food distribution, and ensuring that budget allocations are protected even during times of fiscal constraint. There are also plans to improve transparency and monitoring so that schools can report shortages early and receive prompt assistance.
As efforts continue to stabilise and grow the programme, the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education is calling on stakeholders—including local farmers, school boards, and community leaders—to support the mission of ensuring that no child goes hungry at school.
