BY LINDELWA MYENI
MBABANE– E24 million has been released towards the procurement of food for the school feeding programme, paving the way for improved availability of meals for learners across Eswatini in the coming weeks.
Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo has assured the nation that the procurement and distribution of food to schools is now moving forward following the release of the funds.
The funding is expected to ease concerns over the availability of school meals and provide relief to learners, parents and schools that rely on the programme.
The school feeding programme remains an important part of Government’s support for learner welfare, particularly for children from households facing economic challenges. Through the programme, learners receive meals while at school, helping to support their nutritional needs.
Nxumalo said the release of the funds will allow the procurement process to proceed, with food distribution expected to commence within the coming weeks.
In addition to Government’s funding, the Ministry of Education and Training has partnered with the Taiwan Tzu Chi Foundation to extend food assistance to schools in rural communities.
The partnership is expected to complement Government’s school feeding efforts by supporting learners in rural areas where food insecurity can affect school attendance and learning.
School feeding programmes also play an important role in encouraging learners to attend school and supporting concentration in the classroom. For some learners, the meal provided at school can be an important source of daily nourishment.
The release of the funds, together with additional support from the Taiwan Tzu Chi Foundation, strengthens efforts to ensure that learners continue receiving food while at school.
With the procurement process now moving forward, schools and families can look forward to improved food availability and continued support for learner welfare across the country.
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