Africa-Press – Botswana. Kweneng District Council has been forced to reduce the number of meals provided to primary school learners from two to one per day due to a budget shortfall in the school feeding programme.
This was revealed by council chairperson, Mr Ontefetse Rankhibidu during his address at the opening of the second session of the full council meeting on Monday.
Mr Rankhibidu explained that while the council had expected a budget of P19.5 million for the programme, only P7.3 million was received.
“The council has 40 primary schools with an enrolment of 22 700 learners. Due to the shortage of funds, we have been compelled to reduce meals to one per day instead of the planned two,” explained Mr Rankhibidu.
He further disclosed that the council was struggling with delays in paying suppliers, which had complicated the implementation of the programme, placing additional strain on the already limited budget as it threatened the smooth running of the school feeding scheme.
In the event the situation persisted, the chairperson said the council might be forced to cut some food items from the menu leaving children with fewer options than before.
Mr Rankhibidu acknowledged the importance of the school feeding programme in sustaining learners and noted that the council remained committed to keeping the programme alive despite financial constraints.
He stressed that the council would continue to manage available resources while working within the limits of what has been allocated.
The school feeding programme has long been one of the district’s major initiatives, supporting not only child nutrition but also attendance and retention in schools.
However, Mr Rankhibidu emphasised that the current financial difficulties made it difficult for the council to meet its original objectives.
He however, assured councillors that the council would remain focused on the welfare of learners, even as it navigated the realities of budget cuts and delays in funding.
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