Oxfam in 2020 reported that "The World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that the number of people experiencing crisis-level hunger will rise to 270 million before the end of the year as a result of the pandemic, an 82% increase since 2019.” South Africa was also identified as a rapidly "emerging" hunger "hot spot". Leaners from poorer communities have not been spared the hardships of hunger. The South African government and the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has a feeding scheme called National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), which provides one nutritious meal a day to all learners in poorer primary and secondary schools. The NSNP aims to improve the health and nutritional status of the poorest learners in South Africa to improve their ability to learn. The NSNP ordinarily feeds approximately 9.6 million of the poorest learners across the country during school term. Thus, the programme is also a poverty alleviation programme. This paper will investigate to what extent the NSNP promotes effective learning in particular being a tool towards the right to basic education in section 29(1)(a) and the child’s right to basic nutrition in section 28(1)(c) of the South African Constitution. Theory of change underpins this study to explore the expected impacts of the programme employing a qualitative research approach. Data will be collected using semi-structured interviews, supported by note-taking and observations from 8 participants. Preliminary findings from the literature show that the impact of school feeding programmes are mixed and dependent on the nature of the School.

Authors:
Gladys Sibanda, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Gladys Sibanda is a University Assistant Professor/Lecturer at Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa

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