Nearly three million children in public schools will get at least one hot meal a day during learning hours this term under the government’s school feeding program that aims to insulate learners from the effects of El Niño-induced drought while promoting high levels of nutrition among them.
The program will start on Tuesday when schools open for the second term.
Under the initiative, which will cover schools in both rural and urban areas, the government will provide meals to every learner from early childhood development classes up to secondary school level on a daily basis.
There are approximately 10,000 public schools in Zimbabwe, with an estimated enrollment of three million.
Boarding schools account for 25,000 of the total enrollment.
Overall, the nutrition program seeks to reduce school dropouts and absenteeism as a result of hardships resulting from drought.
In an interview with the Sunday Mail, the Director of Learners Welfare and Psychological Services at the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Ms Kwadzanai Nyanongo, said all school children are entitled to at least one meal a day.
In the face of the El Niño phenomenon and its impact on food and nutrition security, the government is mobilizing resources to support the school feeding program locally to ensure that learners attending day schools receive at least one hot, balanced meal per day without exception. She said.
“Boarding schools already provide meals as part of their offering, so they are not included here.
“The program covers both rural and urban schools.
“The budget (for the program) was an annual thing; However, this year, additional spending is definitely needed to fill the gap created by El Niño.
Ms Nyanongo said the program would require the participation of various stakeholders, including local authorities, community leaders, parents, teachers and traditional leaders.
“In the past, the government used to provide maize without any pleasure.
“Minister (Education) Circular No. 5 of 2019 notes that while the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is responsible for school feeding, the success of the local approach requires mutually beneficial linkages with other ministries and stakeholders.” He said.
“The local produce nutrition program requires the active participation of the ministries responsible for agriculture, health, social welfare, women and youth affairs and finance.
“It works in such a way that demand for agricultural products is created by designing nutritious school meals that provide a balanced diet to all learners on every day of the school calendar.”
Apart from its benefits for children’s nutrition, the program also acts as an attraction for learners to attend school religiously.
Ms Nyanongo added that when school dropout is reduced, child marriage, child prostitution, drug and drug abuse, among other social vices will be reduced.
The Director of Communications and Advocacy at the Ministry of Primary and Education, Mr Taungana Ndoro, said health protocols had been put in place to ensure the food was fit for consumption.
“During drought or any potential outbreak of diseases such as cholera, additional measures are taken to ensure the safety of children participating in the school feeding programme,” he said.
“These measures include regular monitoring of food safety and hygiene practices, proper storage and handling of food items, promoting hand washing and sanitation practices, and providing health education on preventive measures.” Sunday mail
