By Tracy Kafansiyanji

Dedza, December 16, Mana: France Minister of State Chrysoula Zacharopoulou on Friday hailed the World Food Programme (WFP) for its interventions on the school feeding programme under the Joint Programme on Girls Education.

Zacharopoulou said the home grown school meals programme being implemented by WFP with support from NORAD and the Royal Norwegian Embassy has improved primary education in the country.

She made the remarks when she led a visiting delegation to Mphunzi Primary School in Dedza.

“I am pleased to see the growth of the project we have supported for both students to go back to school and farmers who supply foods in schools.

"We implemented it in the eight districts and we have seen its short term results, such as students going to classes while well fed and farmers benefitting from profits for supplying foods in schools because we buy them,” she stated.

She further added that their aim is to focus on long term impacts and that France will continue funding the project, as well as working with the government in order to reach out to many schools in various districts across the country.

On her part, Principal Secretary for Basic Education in the Ministry of Education, Rachel Chimbwete Phiri, said the programme has, among others, improved on enrolment of learners compared to the past as many failed to attend classes on empty stomachs.

She added that apart from improved enrolment, the project has also seen learners completing their primary education as well as reduced absenteeism.

"We have hope that the initiative will scale up to all the districts by 2030 with the availability of funding,” she stated.

In his speech, Mphunzi head teacher Joseph Kapetuka said the initiative has brought in a lot of benefits at his school, more especially increased pass rate for girls which rose from 72 percent in 2018/19 academic years to 93 percent in 2023.

In 2024, WFP's school feeding programme is expected to expand to schools in Mzimba, Nkhata Bay and Rumphi districts.