Pretoria - The Department of Basic Education has this week marked National Nutrition Week, aimed at promoting eating appropriate quantities of food.
While the education of learners on the importance of nutrition is part of the school curriculum, the National Nutrition Week is a period of heightened awareness and reinforcement of nutrition education, and an opportunity to celebrate the advances made by government to provide healthy meals to learners in need.
According to the department, the theme for this year’s Nation Nutrition Week was: “Choose Your Portion with Caution”.
Together with partners including Nestle Healthy Kids, commemorations were held at Pisgah Primary School in KwaZulu-Natal and Sentebale Primary in the Free State.
Business entities and civil society have heeded the call to partner with government in support of the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), which sees more than eight million learners provided with a nutritious meal every day.
The NSNP fosters quality education by alleviating hunger in the short-term, which subsequently incentivises learners to attend school regularly and punctually.
The programme also addresses micro-nutrient deficiencies that may exist in children, thereby enhancing their learning capacity.
Following a long-standing partnership, Tiger Brands SA and the department provided the 20 millionth meal to learners of Maokeng Primary School in Modimolle, Limpopo on Thursday.
Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, said: “We are encouraged by the support of business and civil society to help government feed these leaders of tomorrow.” – SAnews.gov.za
