Kigali, Rwanda – (African Boulevard News) – Rwanda’s school feeding programme has been making a tremendous impact on children’s education in the country. The programme, implemented in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), has been instrumental in improving students’ attendance, concentration and overall academic performance.
Over the years, Rwanda has committed a significant amount of its government budget to the programme. This year, the country has allocated over 73 billion francs, an increase from the 40 million francs allocated in 2021. This commendable effort has allowed the government to provide a hot meal to over 1.5 million students in public schools across the country.
The school feeding programme has been pivotal in addressing the issue of malnutrition among school-going children, which has been a significant challenge in the country. The programme focuses on providing healthy and nutritious meals for the students, which has helped improve their physical health and well-being. This has also led to a decrease in absenteeism rates, as students are now more likely to attend school regularly.
The WFP has been instrumental in providing technical support to the government in implementing the programme successfully. They have provided training to the cooks, support to the local farmers to produce food for the programme and monitoring tools to ensure that the programme runs smoothly.
According to the Minister of Education, Dr. Valentine Uwamariya, the school feeding programme has been an essential pillar in the government’s commitment to providing quality education for all. “We have seen a significant improvement in students’ attendance and academic performance since the school feeding programme was introduced,” she said.
The government’s efforts have not gone unnoticed, with international organizations commending Rwanda for its commitment to improving education and nutrition for young children. The school feeding programme has become a model for other African countries looking to improve their education systems.
In a statement, WFP Country Director, Edith Heines, said, “The collaboration between the Government of Rwanda and WFP in implementing the school feeding programme has been a success story. The programme has improved the quality and relevance of education for the children, especially those living in vulnerable communities.”
In conclusion, Rwanda’s school feeding programme in partnership with the WFP has been successful in improving children’s academic performance, attendance, and nutrition. The government’s commitment to investing in education and nutrition for young children has been vital in ensuring that they have a brighter future. The programme has become a model for other African countries in improving their education and addressing malnutrition among school-going children.
