Iceland has pumped $1.5 million (about K2.6 billion) into Malawi’s Homegrown School Feeding Programme so that children in Nkhotakota can get nutritious meals and stay in school for the next three years.
Icelandic ambassador David Bjarnason unveiled the nutrition boost on Thursday at Dzikonilonse Primary School in the lakeside district.
The Government of Iceland has been supporting the school feeding programme since 2012.
The porridge seasoned with diverse foodstuffs is credited with improving children’s health as well as school enrolment, attendance and pass rates.
World Food Programme country representative Hyoung Joon Lim, said that the programme contributes to early childhood development and Malawi’s fight against hunger, malnutrition and poverty.
“In order to develop a nation, a well-educated people is very key; hence, our efforts to ensure that we motivate learners to stay in school,” he said.
Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima said the new financial boost will extend homegrown meals to 43 percent of the country’s primary schools.
She said government is determined to expand the nutritious meals to all schools.
“The Government of Malawi aspires to increase the budget for the school feeding programme so that we can reach out to more schools until will achieve 100 percent coverage,” she said.
