An Analysis Of The Implementation Of The School Supplementary Feeding Programme In Windhoek, Namibia

ABSTRACT

The school supplementary feeding programme is a national initiative implemented by

the Ministry of Education (MoE) with the Ministry of Health and Social Services

(MOHSS). MOHSS offers technical expertise in health related issues through the

National Policy for School Health. The objectives of the study were to assess how the

implementation of the school supplementary feeding programme is helping to ease the

malnutrition burden on school learners, determine the extent to which primary school

learners are gaining increased knowledge on nutrition due to the school supplementary

feeding programme, establish the extent to which the knowledge has resulted in

improved practices in food preparation and nutritional status of learners, and to

ascertain the community’s acceptance of the school supplementary feeding programme.

The study applied a combination of qualitative and quantitative design with descriptive

and comparative approaches. Individual interviews were conducted with 102 learners

(both on the feeding programme and those not in the feeding programme) using a

structured questionnaire. A focus group discussion was also held with the parents or

guardians with regards to their perception of the school supplementary feeding

programme (n = 8). The study was conducted at Havana Primary School in the Katutura

area of Windhoek.

The study found a total of 90 %( n=51) of the learners in the school supplementary

feeding programme were thin, with 59% being moderately to severely thin. The study

also revealed that 67% (n=51) of the learners not participating in the school

supplementary feeding programme were also mildly to severely thin. The parents or

guardians appreciated the school feeding programme, but from the learners and the

parents’ responses there was nothing to show that the programme is improving nutrition

knowledge to both the learners and their families.

The findings highlighted that the current school feeding supplementary programme

implementation was not sufficient and that more still needed to improve its delivery.

The school feeding programme is in need of strengthening by implementing more

monitoring and evaluation measures to improve the efficiency of service delivery. The

Ministry of Health and Social services working more closely with the Ministry of

Education can cement the gains already achieved by the school supplementary feeding

program. The primary school education curriculum could also be improved to provide

more nutrition education to the learners.