Implementation of a National School Nutrition Programme: The case of selected South African schools

Abstract

The National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), formerly presented as the Primary School Feeding Scheme (PSFS), was a strategic project acknowledged by the Reconstruction and Development Programme introduced in the formative years of transformation in South Africa. It is against this background that the case study was chosen to examine the implementation of the school nutrition programme for learners from disadvantaged communities. The objective of this study was to determine how the nutrition programme was implemented in schools within the eThekwini region by randomly selecting a sample of four schools within the Umlazi and Pinetown Districts. The aim of the study was to establish the efficacy of the implementation of the NSNP in the selected schools in the eThekwini Region. An empirical study using a mixed-methods approach was undertaken, involving members of the school governing body (SGB), selected teachers, school principals and district managers. The findings highlight the importance of increased oversight, monitoring and evaluation of the programme, training and orientation for the food handlers and school staff, and the significance of contributing to a healthy learning environment for the learners.