Picture: North West Premier, Bushy Maape visits Dingake Primary School in Lichtenburg/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
North West Premier, Bushy Maape said he is pleased with the introduction of serving breakfast at 300 schools across the province. Maape, who was accompanied by the North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi, visited the Dingake Primary School in Lichtenburg to monitor progress registered in the implementation of this initiative through the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) in the province.
“Dingake Primary School forms part of a cohort of 300 schools, where the province introduced breakfast to mitigate the impact of poverty on learners in economically depressed communities. The introduction of this initiative means learners in these schools are receiving two meals a day.
“As part of the province’s back-to-school campaign, we are pleased with the feedback we received in the implementation of this programme. The province is feeding over 740,000 learners through this initiative,” he said.
Maape further said in 2023, he announced that learners in financially depressed communities would benefit from this programme, which is currently serving two meals per day to 300 schools across the province. He added that the feedback he received in the implementation of this programme is satisfactory.
“To date, we have not experienced any hiccups. The programme is in full swing and we also show gratitude towards the roll-out of several Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiatives by the private sector in addressing the scourge of poverty in this community and particularly at this school,” said Maape.
He said they understand that various social partners and in this regard, business have been assisting this school with poverty alleviation projects.
“This is commendable and I would like to urge others to do the same. We can only build our communities if we work together to address the challenges of poverty and unemployment afflicting our people.
“While there were minor incidents which were reported on the first day of the re-opening of schools, we are confident that this will not have any adverse impact on the 2024 academic year activities,” said Maape.
Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said: “The department is off to a positive start as schools across the province welcomed learners back for the 2024 academic year. We are thrilled to see such a vibrant atmosphere at Dingakwe Primary School today.
“The high attendance and enthusiasm among both learners and educators are a testament to the dedication of our school communities and the importance placed on education in the North West.”
She said Dingakwe Primary School with its 571 learners, exemplifies the diverse and thriving school communities across the province. Motsumi said the school’s participation in the breakfast program is a crucial step towards addressing food insecurity and creating a conducive learning environment for all learners.
“We would also like to commend the teachers and support staff for their tireless efforts in preparing for the new year. We encouraged learners to embrace the opportunities ahead and maximize their education. The department remains committed to providing quality education for all learners in the province.
“With a promising start to the new year, the department is confident in building on past successes and creating a brighter future for education in the North West,” she said.
The Guardian 