School Feeding Programme: Agriculture Ministry Hands Over Rice to Education Ministry
Sorie Abubakar Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Agriculture has officially handed over 350 metric tons of table rice to the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education in Bo City to support the government’s ongoing school feeding programme.
The rice donation, provided by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), is aimed at strengthening efforts to provide nutritious meals to school pupils across the country.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Deputy Minister of Agriculture II, Sahr Hemore, expressed appreciation to ECOWAS for the timely intervention. He noted that the donation would not only support the school feeding programme but also contribute to national food security efforts.
Some experts believe that consistent access to meals in schools plays a crucial role in improving attendance, concentration, and overall academic performance among pupils. Over the years Sierra Leone government believes that partnerships with regional institutions such as ECOWAS demonstrate the importance of collective action in addressing child nutrition and education challenges.
The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education is expected to distribute the rice to beneficiary schools under the national feeding programme.
School feeding in Sierra Leone has evolved over the years as a key social protection and education strategy, particularly in vulnerable and rural communities. Introduced to tackle hunger and low school attendance, the programme has become an important tool in improving enrolment, retention, and learning outcomes. For many pupils, especially those from low-income households, the daily school meal remains a critical incentive for attending classes and a reliable source of nutrition essential for their growth and development.
Wow, that is 7,000 50Kg bags of rice.