R2.51 spent a day to feed a pupil – study

THE Department of Basic Education spent on average R2.51 a child a day on food at eight primary schools in the Eastern Cape.

This is according to new research by the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) in Port Elizabeth‚ published in the Journal of Consumer Science.

The research was conducted at eight quintile three historically black and coloured schools in the city‚ with 8 587 children participating from February 2015 to March this year.

The quintile rating of a school is based on the income‚ unemployment and illiteracy of the surrounding area.

Quintile one to three schools ask no school fees and are on the Department of Basic Education’s National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP).

The R2.51 included the food‚ the gas used to prepare food and paying food servers.

Average portions included 31g of protein‚ 55g of starch and 48g of vegetables and fruit. These meals often consisted of chicken‚ carrots and rice. Portion sizes varied greatly between the schools.

Researchers said these portions often did not provide the 2 400kJ of energy or 30% of the recommended daily intake of 8 000kJ primary school pupils need.

“Chronic undernutrition in the children is reflected by the prevalence of stunting,” the research found.

Stunting is when children are too short for their age.

Other data in the study was collected via observations and conducting 12 interviews at each school with the staff who buy and cook food.

The researchers found food often went to waste because it was not always tasty.

They discovered one knock-on effect of the NSNP is children often get less food at home‚ because parents know their children are fed at school.

Four of the eight schools in the study had kitchens‚ but none met the requirements of space‚ plumbing and electricity.

None had the prescribed minimum amount of utensils and equipment.