Beans currently not delivered in some schools - PS
MBABANE – The Ministry of Education and Training has disclosed that beans are currently not part of the food being delivered in some schools.
The Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry, Bhekithemba Gama, said this was due to the fact that their supplier was facing a shortage of beans.
Gama said they were working around the clock to ensure that the beans were secured, so that they could be delivered to schools.
He explained that deliveries were still continuing, where they were delivering the other food items, which include rice and cooking oil.
According to Gama, the supplier, Southern Trading, was given a schedule to deliver the food, which should be completed within a month.
He stated that some people may assume the deliveries were delaying, but clarified that they were using one supplier for the whole process.
When asked about how many schools had received the food, Gama mentioned that there were no exact figures yet, but the supplier was given a list of 874 schools that should be supplied with food in a month’s time.
“Food has been delivered in different schools. We are following the schedule and those schools that have not yet received the food will be supplied in due course. Those that have also not received the beans will get them as soon as we have the supply,” Gama said.
He noted the inconvenience caused by the shortage, but pleaded with schools to use available funds to buy the beans.
According to Gama, in high schools, parents pay school fees which could be utilised by schools to cover the current shortages.
He added that, even in primary schools, there was a Free Primary Education (FPE) grant.
Gama explained that within the FPE, a portion was allocated for food in schools.
“We are pleading with schools to understand the current problem faced in terms of the deliveries. Government is committed to ensuring that all pupils have access to nutritious meals,” he said.
Gama noted the challenges that may be caused by the shortage, saying that they were cognisant of the fact that some pupils depend on the school feeding schemes, for their daily meals.
He assured head teachers and the nation that the delivery challenges would be sorted soon and the beans supplied to the schools.