The Ministry of Education (MoE) in Chilanga district says 68,000 pupils are benefiting from the school feeding programme.

MoE Chilanga District Planner, Susan Temba has explained that learners from government and community schools across the 12 wards of the district, have been placed and are benefiting from the programme.

She was speaking during the District Nutrition Coordinating Committee meeting.

Ms Temba explained that the introduction of production units in schools has further boosted the feeding programme.

She pointed out that community engagements in some schools have yielded sufficient labour, during food preparations, especially for schools in rural areas of the district.

She stated that the programme has led to increased enrollment and attendance, improved retention and reduced dropouts, enhanced academic performance, and improved nutrition and health.

Ms Temba says effective monitoring of the feeding programme is key towards ensuring that the schools are feeding the children.

She added that improving the school feeding programme requires a multisectoral approach involving government departments, various stakeholders, and the community at large, saying with these measures in place the programme can be more sustainable, efficient, and impactful in improving education and children’s welfare.