Reviewing ten years of the School Nutrition Programme

How effective is the South African School Nutrition Programme?

By: Wildeman RA & Mbebetho N
Published by: Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA) , 2005
Via: Eldis

The South African School Nutrition Programme was established in 1994 to address the food needs of impoverished school children. However, researchers are divided about the policy value of the school nutrition programme, with one group wishing to expand the programme whilst the other advocates limiting its scope. This paper argues that the lack of balance between school feeding and other nutritional considerations de-legitimises the programme’s narrow targeting and strengthens arguments for the expansion of the school nutrition programme.
The paper tells the historical story of the school nutrition programme, documenting the distinct public financing regimes as well as explaining the definitive programme-governance related periods. With regard to reviewing the efficiency and effectiveness of spending on the school nutrition programme.