Kigali- On the 23^rd March 2021 ,Rwanda through the Ministry of Education celebrated the 6^th edition of African Day of School Feeding under the theme “Harnessing Africa’s Traditional Knowledge and Food to Support Home Grown School Feeding Programmes and Systems During COVID-19 Response and Beyond."

Rwanda started to celebrate the African Day of School Feeding in 2017 and this year was celebrated for the fifth time. The celebrations were held countrywide and at national level took place at GS Kayanga, a school located in Rutunga Sector, Gasabo district, Kigali City.

1^st March every year, African countries celebrate African Day of School Feeding (ADSF) to acknowledge and reflect on the impact of school meal on health, education and wealth of communities and the country in general. The ADSF was instituted in January 2016 through Decision Assembly by African Union Heads of State and Government and is celebrated on 1st March each year.

 The Government of Rwanda has made education a priority and believes that the implementation of school feeding programme increases pupils’ attendance rate as well as giving more chances to learners from poor households to pursue their studies, reduce poor performance and dropouts. Honourable Gaspard TWAGIRAYEZU, the Minister of State in charge of Primary and Secondary Education

In 2019, the Government approved the National School Feeding Policy, which stipulates that all primary and secondary schools’ students should be getting lunch at school daily. Consequently, in 2020, a budget to scale up the national school feeding programme was increased to ease its implementation countrywide.

To date, across the country the Government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Education is constructing 2648 kitchens, equipped with modern cooking stoves. They are in the final stages of construction in all public and government – subsidized schools.

The school feeding policy prioritizes a Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) approach where schools purchase food stuffs at local markets. This will enable schools to purchase food at local farmers and get a variety of foods. The HGSF acts as an effective investment into rural economies, thus boosting agricultural production and incomes.

The fifth celebration of African Day of School Feeding was an opportunity to highlight the contribution of HGSF approach to educational continuation and equal opportunity for all children. It is also an avenue to raise awareness about the home-grown school feeding programs and draw attention of the role of different stakeholders in policy implementation.

ADSF2021 KINYARWANDA VERSION , CLICK HERE 

More information and Media Inquiries:

1. Juliette NYIRANEZA, Public Relation Officer, Ministry of Education, on +250 788 755 631 or at jnyiraneza@mineduc.gov.rw.

1. Claude UWIHOREYE, Communication Specialist, 0785513466 Email: cuwihoreye@mineduc.gov.rw

1. SALAFINA Flavia, Information, Education and Communications Specialist, Ministry of Education on +250 788 449500 or at fsalafina@mineduc.gov.rw.