large text
regular text
Article by Malibongwe Mtima
Excellent governance and efficient running has earned Jatyana primary school in Tyutyu Village outside King William's Town a surprise visit by the national department of Basic Education’s Deputy Director General of Social Responsibility and Auxiliary Services Branch, Gugu Ndebele as part of her National Nutrition (SNP) Week programme which started on the 9th -14th of October this year.
The visit saw each of the 530 learners from this senior primary school receiving goodies like a lunchbox, a squise-bottle, a cap and story books for reading from Ndebele as part of this National Nutrition Week themed ‘Healthy lunch boxes for school children’. The programme also means at least each of these learners from the poverty stricken areas is guaranteed one meal per day to help them concentrate in class during the lesson periods.
Addressing the media during the launch, Ndebele praised this Quintile school for its effective governance and the smooth running. “This school is one of the finest examples in the province and the fact that it is located in a disadvantageous community has not stopped from adhering to best practices hence I’m here. I urge parents across the province to ensure that they prepare our learners lunch boxes as this is easier and cheap”, she said.
Ndebele added that the department is pushing for decentralization of this SNP programme through first ensuring that all schools are declared Section 21 (S21). “A responsibility attached to these Section 21 schools is that they should manage their funds effectively, should they do this we as the department will allow them to handle their school nutrition funds, like we have done so in the Northern Province. Additionally, we urge School Governing Bodies (SGB) to be involved in these projects as they are part of the poverty alleviation programme which enhance schooling their children who are our learners”, she added.
One of the beneficiaries, a Grade four learner Mkuseli Soyamba, described the initiative as a blessing to all the school learners. “We are happy due to what the caring department has demonstrated to us. We promise to pass our studies as we will be able to concentrate in class now, not worrying ourselves about lunch, thanks to the education department”, said Soyamba.
Jityana primary school principal, Sidama Qabaka who could hardly hold back his delight due to this visit confirmed that this department has care towards its learners and that is the step towards the right direction. “This is a great day in our lives here as our government has provided our school with healthy food which will complement our vegetables in our garden. Our department has also provided us with five peach trees, five oranges and five apricot trees for us to start an orchard while the department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries donated three indigenous trees”, concluded Qabaka.
Article Tags: lunch boxes, school children, Jatyana primary school
Previous page
Print
Email
Favourites
Export to PDF
Customer Care