Proper nutrition is the foundation of learner survival, growth and development, with well-nourished learners being able to better learn, play and participate in their communities. Well-nourished learners also develop stronger immune systems and are thus more resilient to illness.
“Learner nutrition is key to physical and cognitive development, significantly impacting an individual’s lifelong health and well-being. Without proper nutrients, learners may struggle to develop the ability to maintain concentration, which becomes increasingly important as they grow older,” says Tiger Brands Foundation (TBF) Gauteng Regional Coordinator Kefiloe Mokoena
“In South Africa, malnutrition remains a significant underlying cause of child mortality and is associated with one-third of all child in-hospital deaths, according to UNICEF figures. Yet, preventing malnutrition in learners remains a challenge whereas it should be a priority.”
Unfortunately, millions of South African learners come from poor and vulnerable communities and their sole source of nutrition is the in-school nutrition programme that has been rolled out by government and supported by organisations such as the TBF.
The National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) is a government programme that provides two nutritious meals to all learners in primary and secondary schools across all provinces of South Africa. It aims to provide nutritious meals to learners to improve their ability to learn.
Mokoena points out that the TBF’s in-school breakfast programme runs in tandem with the NSNP and provides a healthy, nutritious breakfast every school day to thousands of learners at under-resourced schools across South Africa. Statistics South Africa reveals that child hunger remains a huge challenge in the country, with more than half a million households with children aged five years or younger experiencing hunger.
“Given the magnitude of the malnutrition crisis in South Africa, in-school nutrition programmes are a priority investment, as they not only support the learner but also the learning process, helping to build a healthy and educated population,” he explains.
“Currently, more than nine million learners are supported by the NSNP every day at school, and this is a key intervention aimed at improving the ability of learners to learn by combatting malnutrition, reducing hunger and improving school attendance.”
The TBF, adds Mokoena, has entered a new strategic phase, with the primary focus of this approach being to provide a high-quality breakfast to learners in vulnerable communities, while building enduring and meaningful partnerships that ensure long-term impact.
“TBF will champion and promote the expansion of quality breakfast to more vulnerable learners in South Africa every school day. We are confident that by multiplying our efforts, we can secure the nation’s potential,” he says.
“We can improve the lives of vulnerable learners and their surrounding communities by creating and implementing sustainable, scalable and replicable programmes that enhance nutrition and education.”
Good educational outcomes can directly be linked to learners having access to good nutrition, which in turn can have a positive impact on their socio-economic circumstances, allowing them to escape the scourge of food insecurity and the cycle of poverty.
“As we know, too many young learners in South Africa are exposed to multiple risks, including malnutrition, poverty, poor health and poorly stimulating home environments that could detrimentally affect their cognitive, motor and socio-emotional development,” says Mokoena.
“Our mandate is to facilitate economic transformation in the country by improving learner health and education outcomes. Not only do we do this through partnering with the Department of Basic Education and schools to implement our in-school breakfast programme but we also support education through the building of nutrition centres, establishing leadership activities, research and capacity building.”
However, poverty, hunger and malnutrition continue to plague large portions of the South African population, and many learners still arrive at school on a daily basis with empty stomachs, which impacts their academic performance and could even lead to non-attendance.
He notes that research has shown that an increase in hunger is one of the biggest contributors to the school dropout rate, meaning that in-school nutrition programmes are one of the most effective tools to deal with the issue of learner dropouts.
“Significant emphasis should be placed on the scaling up of food assistance to learners who are hard to reach through the state’s social relief efforts. The TBF’s in-school breakfast programme has proven to be a very effective intervention for school dropout rates,” he says.
“Several studies have indicated that when learners experience hunger, it not only leads to reduced attendance and participation in school but can also result in low energy levels and tiredness, which can negatively impact their engagement in the classroom.”