Minister of Education Sonia Parag has revealed that the government’s National School Feeding Programme will expand to include more schools and there will be a huge focus on improving the quality of the meals.
Minister Parag emphasised that the programme’s expansion will not only focus on reaching more schools but also on improving the quality of meals served. Thousands benefit from the programme daily across schools in Regions One, Two, Three, Five, Seven, Eight, Nine, and Ten.
“So we are looking to have all schools benefit from it, you have the hot meals programme and you have the breakfast programme. What we are going to be focusing on is quality and the point of expanding it to various schools is for the attentiveness of the students,” Minister Parag revealed during an interview with the News Room.
She highlighted that the programme has proven to increase student attendance, as many children previously stayed away from school due to the lack of food at home.
“Knowing that they will be properly fed with two meals gives them the assurance and comfort to be in the school environment. We want them to learn and to be comfortable while learning [and] taken care of,” Parag said.
Research has consistently shown that children who receive a nutritious diet are more likely to perform better academically. Beyond enhancing learning outcomes, the programme also creates employment opportunities for those qualified to prepare and deliver meals, while reducing the financial burden on parents and guardians.
The government has underscored that this initiative is part of its broader development agenda to ensure every child has equal access to quality education, regardless of background.
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