29 Jul 2014

Parliament has been informed that the current daily menu for primary schools was reviewed, upgraded and aligned to that of secondary schools in 2013 by food specialists with the assistance of NGOs and other critical stakeholders in the feeding programme.

Responding to a parliamentary question on July 28, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso disputed claims that primary schools menu was beans only.

She said the menu was varied on daily basis so that pupils did not eat beans every day as it was alleged. She said items in the menu included stewed beef steak, sorghum, maize meal porridge, samp, milk, bread with jam or peanut butter spreads.

She also said during harvest season, Letlhafula items such as water melons, mealie cobs, green beans, cowpeas, pumpkins, makgomane and sour milk were purchased by schools to add to the approved school menu.

Francistown West MP, Dr Habaudi Hobona had asked why the daily menu for primary schools; beans only, differed with that of secondary schools where there was a choice of meat, protein and starch.

She had also wanted to know when the minister intended to upgrade the menu so as to provide the pupils with balance diet. ENDS