NSNP DIALOGUE

On 15 May 2026, Mangaung Metropolitan Education District hosted the National School Nutrition Program (NSNP) dialogue that brought together stakeholders to collaborate and discuss key issues on the program. The dialogue was held under the theme Hungry to Learn: How nutrition shapes academic success in schools.

A thorough presentation was done on the overall results of schools participating in the NSNP programme, which are 183 out of 263 in Mangaung. MMED is striving to retain its spot as the number 1 district in the province and also reclaim the number 1 spot as the best district in the country and SNSP is but one of the programmes to do so, ensuring that learners do not go hungry because a ‘hungry child cannot learn well’.

Our sister department, Agriculture, Rural Development and Environmental Affairs as a stakeholder supports schools with various projects such as drilling boreholes at schools, vegetable seeds for planting and gardening tools. Glen Agricultural Institute of Training also assists with skills for vegetable production at school gardens thereby adding a balanced diet for learners.

Children who are well nourished are more likely to succeed academically, therefore school nutrition programmes are important for developmental and academic success. One of the most emphasized points throughout the presentations made was that schools should start their own vegetable gardens, which will definitely supplement the meals learners receive through NSNP.

The District Director, Mr. December Moloi, appreciated the support MMED is receiving from stakeholders and indicated that changes in schools should start showing and that everyone involved in the program from the district officials, voluntary food handlers, the person’s handling the budget and procuring groceries for learners’ meals should work together in ensuring that the beneficiaries come first.