about school feeding
We firmly believe that "you can't teach a hungry child". Children cannot learn effectively on an empty stomach. School feeding encourages children to come to school and enhances their ability to learn. Thousands of children come to school hungry every day, knowing that when they get there, they will receive a nutritious meal.
the menus
Although the school feeding programme is specifically intended to address hunger in school-going children, the menus also provide at least 20% of a child's recommended daily allowance (RDA) for energy, thereby positively impacting their nutritional status. We have set menus, which are:
- Mondays: Rice and Breyani Lentils
- Tuesdays: Samp and Beans and a Fruit
- Wednesdays: Curry Soya Mince with Rice and Fresh Carrots
- Thursdays: Rice served with a Pilchards in tomato and Fresh Cabbage
- Fridays: Samp and Savoury Soya Mince with Fresh Carrots and a Fruit
We provide these menus in all our schools in order to standardise the implementation of the school feeding programme and allow for its accurate monitoring and evaluation. Our field workers visit schools regularly to monitor the preparation and serving, hygiene standards, storage conditions of products and making sure that our children receive their daily meal, early in the morning.
How Many Children Are Fed?
PSFA currently provides daily meals to 326,600 children in 746 primary, secondary and special needs schools. This number is made up as follows;
- We receive a subsidy from the Department of Education's (DoE) National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) to feed 297,000 children in 644 schools.
- In these DoE schools, where the subsidy is insufficient, we feed 10,500 children from our own funds, which we have to raise.
- We also provide school feeding to 19,100 children in 102 schools registered with the DoE, but they do not qualify for the school feeding subsidy. It costs PSFA R6.5m annually to maintain this programme.
How School Feeding Is Implemented
- Each school is provided with gas stoves, gas cylinders, pots, cooking utencils, plates and spoons. Food is prepared on site, at each school.
- At midterm, stock quantities for the next term per school are determined.
- Fresh fruit and vegetables are delivered daily.
- Bulk orders are placed with all our suppliers for the full requirement, split over 2 deliveries to PSFA's warehouse - one delivery during the school holiday and the other a few weeks into the new term. Bread is delivered to each school on designated days.
- When schools re-open at the beginning of each term, stock quantities are divided into 3 deliveries during the course of the term for each school.
- At each school, unemployed parents/volunteers arrive early in the morning to prepare the food, and receive a small honorarium for their time and effort.
- Gas is supplied by PSFA as and when schools require.
- Children eat their meal by 10h00 or first interval.
