Questions over feeding scheme
THE NORTHERN Cape Department of Education has dismissed allegations surrounding the management of a school feeding scheme, which is apparently serving “nothing but peanut butter sandwiches”.
DA spokesperson for Education, Safiyia Stanfley, said that funds from the national school nutrition programme that were intended to feed impoverished pupils at Homevale High School, were instead being spent on Christmas groceries “for those connected to the institution’s feeding scheme”.
Stanfley indicated that while pupils were only fed peanut butter sandwiches during the fourth quarter, the food handlers continued to receive the same allowances.
“On top of this, the DA has learnt that the same school’s management overruled the school governing body’s selection of a caterer for the matric dance, instead giving the job to the same food handler.”
Stanfley stated that the Department of Education had suggested that pupils were being served peanut butter sandwiches to prevent food wastage ahead of the December holidays.
“Meals should be balanced throughout the year, even on the eve of the school holidays. Giving pupils bread and butter so that those in control of the food can take home roast beef and turkey, is completely unacceptable.”
She urged the department to disclose who was unduly benefiting from the scheme.
“We want to know why the food handler has failed to comply with acceptable menu options, how the funds are spent, where the surplus funds are directed and why the school management undermined the school governing body (SGB) in the appointment of a caterer for the matric dance.”
The spokesperson for the provincial Department of Education, Geoffrey van der Merwe, indicated that the nutrition programme at Homevale High School was fully functional in terms of the departmental guidelines.
“The school serves fully-balanced meals all year round. During exam times they are allowed to give the pupils bread with peanut butter, or fish or soya and a fruit.”
He added that the food handlers were regarded as well-disciplined employees of the Department of Education, who were responsible for preparing and serving the food.
“They are not helping themselves with the provisions intended for the pupils. The allegation of Christmas groceries for the employees is totally unfounded and incorrect and this never happens. Roast beef and turkey is definitely not on the menu.”
Van der Merwe stated that the feeding scheme operated on a strict monthly budget allocation that was regularly monitored by the Department of Education.
“The feeding scheme has to work economically in order to prevent wastage. At no point were pupils disadvantaged or under-fed.”
Van der Merwe added that school management had supported and never interfered in the decision taken by the matric dance committee.