Government is allowing our children to go to school hungry
Earlier today, I visited the Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA) with Democratic Alliance (DA) Parliamentary Leader Lindiwe Mazibuko. The PSFA is a non-profit organisation that provides food for more than 320 000 hungry school children every day. They do fantastic work.
Hungry children cannot learn and reach their full potential. Organisations like the PSFA play a vital role in combating child hunger.
It is however unfortunate that the national government's own school feeding programme, the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), does not function effectively. This leaves a vacuum that has to be filled by organisations like the PSFA.
Since 2005/2006, the NSNP has underspent its budget by roughly R215 million. It is estimated that this could have fed up to 805 209 children. A 2008 Public Service Commission report showed that multiple tenders relating to the NSNP have been rewarded irregularly - no doubt contributing to the failures of the programme.
But the Western Cape government has had successes in implementing the programme. Through the NSNP, the Western Cape government provides feeding above the national norm to over 360 000 learners at more than 1 000 targeted primary and secondary schools in poor communities. Learners receive cooked meals every day and the menu includes fresh fruit and vegetables.
Based on our experience in government in the Western Cape and the interactions we have had with NGOs like the PSFA, we have devised a 5-point plan for the improvement of the national NSNP. The DA proposes that government:
- Conduct independent audits of all nutrition programmes to root out corruption, inefficiencies and maladministration;
- Promote healthy habits. Teachers must undergo a short course to enable them to teach their pupils about the virtues of good hygiene, exercise and healthy eating;
- Create an interdepartmental partnership between the departments of Health, Social Development and Education to bring social development practitioners out to schools for general check-ups, oversight visits and consultation where necessary;
- Improve community participation by giving school governing bodies and local parents more say in how the NSNP is implemented in their area;
- Expand the reach of the NSNP by increasing the budget per child to allow for morning snacks and after-sport snacks.
We need to ensure that the next generation of South Africans is supported to live better lives. In order to achieve this, our children must be healthy, active, focused and in school. Hunger undermines the development potential of good education. We must do everything possible to ensure that the NSNP starts to contribute to a better life for our children.
Statement issued by Dr Wilmot James MP, DA Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry, June 5 2012
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