Kokbe Tsebah Primary School celebrates African Day of School Feeding in Ethiopia

Since its recognition by the African Union in 2016, the Africa Day for School Feeding marks a moment each year to recognise the immense value of home grown school feeding in improving retention and the performance of children in school.

On 1 March 2017, the African Day of School Meals was officially celebrated at Kokbe Tsebah Primary School in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the theme, “Home Grown School Feeding: Investment in Youth and Children for Harnessing the Demographic Dividend”.  Around one hundred guests and partners attended, including the First Lady of Ethiopia, the Minister of Education, State Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Deputy Minister for Basic Education, WFP Head of Programmes, representatives of USAID, and UNICEF.

In his opening speech, the Minister of Education stressed that Ethiopia shall be implementing national school feeding programmes in all schools as part of the newly developed National School Health Nutrition Strategy. He added that ‘the national school feeding programme will not be limited only to schools where students are vulnerable to malnutrition and food shortage, but also will be applicable to all primary schools.’ The overview of School Meals Program in Ethiopia and the Government’s future direction was presented by the Deputy Minister for Basic Education highlighting the Ministries’ strategy for implementation of a holistic school feeding programme that will be integrated into the national education system.

It [school feeding] stimulates areas such as agriculture, nutrition, health, and social development. The programme encourages families to consistently send their children to school, reducing child labour, early pregnancy and early marriage.”

Dr. Yohannes Woldetensae, Senior Education Expert, Ethiopia.

The First Lady who is also the Ambassador for the Nutrition and School meals Programme in Ethiopia concluded the event by assuring those in attendance of Ethiopia’s commitment to embrace the African Union Member States decision to implement Home Grown School Feeding at national levels. Similarly, the representative of the WFP pledged support to the School feeding Programme in Ethiopia, and to work closely with the African Union Commission to the successful implementation of this initiative.

Learn more about this event in Ethiopia (Africa Youth).

Learn more about the regional event held in Congo.