Challenges for School Feeding Scheme in South Africa Pile Up

A primary school in the Eastern Cape is struggling to put food on the plates of learners with the Department of Basic Education's (DBE) current budget allocation of just R3.05 per child.

The allocation per learner for one daily meal for the 2023/24 financial year is R3.05 for primary schools, R3.65 for secondary schools, R7.35 for rural school learners, and 59 cents for breakfast for all schools, according to the Eastern Cape Education Department spokesperson Mali Mtima.

The principal says they are struggling to make ends meet, especially since there is no provision for ingredients such as thickening agents, salt, oil or onions to improve flavour.

This comes after DBE Angie Motshekga apologised after thousands of learners in KwaZulu-Natal have been left without school meals for the past month.

The National School Nutrition Programme was set up by the government to "address hunger, malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies in learners". About 9.6 million learners are fed through this initiative on school days, according to the department's recent parliamentary presentation on 16 May.

A conditional grant of R9.8-billion has been allocated to the nutrition programme for the 2023/2024 financial year. According to the department's meal plan advisory, which is worked out by nutritionists, learner meals should consist of protein, starch, and at least one vegetable or fruit every day.