The Ministry of Education and Human Development (MINEDH) considers that the introduction of school lunch is contributing to a significant improvement in educational performance.

According to the Permanent Secretary of MINEDH, Ismael Assis, who spoke at the central ceremonies of March 1st, African School Feeding Day, the initiative has been contributing to the increase of new entries and retention of children in schools, especially in rural areas.

This year, the date was celebrated under the slogan: "Nutrition and human capital development in Africa through increased investment in school feeding with local procurement".

On the occasion, the permanent secretary of MINEDH specified that the School Feeding Program, introduced in 2019, is being implemented directly by his institution in only 340 primary schools out of the 12,969 existing in the country.

"The number of beneficiaries is quite small, hence the Government is working with cooperation partners to increase coverage. It has been proven that this program is significantly reducing the negative impact of food insecurity and malnutrition on the Education sector," he said.

Another similar program, according to Ismael Assis, has been implemented by partners of the MINEDH and consists in the distribution of dry rations for students to take home or hot for consumption at school.

These actions, as an example, created conditions for the return and permanence of children in school, in this period of the Covid-19 pandemic and after the outbreak of cyclones Idai and Kenneth, in the provinces of Cabo Delgado, Zambézia, Manica, and Sofala.

"School feeding programs are also opportunities to teach youngsters how to eat better, while learning about sustainable lifestyles and healthy diets," he said.

Assis believes that nutrition education can increase knowledge and awareness about the importance of healthy eating and nutrition. The source added that nutritional behaviors learned in school have a lifelong impact on children, their families, and communities.