School Feeding Programme to Reach More Schools

Government plans to expand the national school feeding programme to more than 13,000 schools across the country, as part of efforts to improve learning outcomes and keep more children in the classroom.

Ministry of Education Assistant Director and Head of Communications, Kunda Mando, says the ministry is working closely with cooperating partners to scale up the initiative.

Speaking to ZNBC News, Ms Mando said the programme is currently being implemented in more than 9,000 schools nationwide. She noted that it initially began in just 30 districts but has since been extended to reach all 116 districts across the country.

According to Ms Mando, the programme has already had a marked impact on learners, contributing to improved school attendance and stronger academic performance. Providing pupils with a reliable daily meal, she explained, has encouraged more children to enrol and remain in school.

The planned expansion has been welcomed by the education sector. Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ) General Secretary, Henry Sinkala, described the move as a clear sign that the country has a government that places a high priority on the quality of education.

Dr Sinkala said the current administration has made substantial investments in the education sector, and that the growth of the feeding programme reflects a wider commitment to supporting both learners and teachers.

He added that sustained investment of this kind would help build a stronger, more inclusive education system that benefits communities in every part of the country.