17 Mar 2016

Plans to improve pupils’ menu in primary schools are underway, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso told Parliament on Wednesday. She said every pupil would enjoy the menu which comprises primarily porridge, stewed beef, samp, beans, bread, UHT milk, jam and peanut butter.

Ms Tshireletso said the move was as per prescription in the standard primary schools menu except UHT milk on account of irregular supply due to challenges experienced by the supplier. However, she assured MP’s that the supplier was currently addressing the challenges.

The assistant minister also said the Selebi Phikwe Town Council no longer experienced the challenges of cooking gas supply at primary schools because the contract for the supplier runs for a full year, and that all the suppliers were locally based companies. However, she warned that the current contract would come to an end on June 30, 2016.

Furthermore, she stated that the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has taken the decision to decentralise the procurement of all items on the primary school menu except stewed beef, UHT milk and vegetable oil.She added that the turnaround time for procurement had turned out to be longer as a result of poor performance by some contractors which led to slow or no delivery of some items.

She also assured MP’s that the ministry would monitor their performance closely through the Selebi Phikwe Town Council.

Selebi Phikwe West Member of Parliament, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse had asked the assistant minister to explain the state of feeding at primary schools in the Selebi Phikwe West constituency.

He also wanted her to state the menu that was prescribed for primary school pupils and what they actually ate, the periodic short supply of gas and some foods. Furthermore, he also asked her to state procurement issues and plans which were in place to improve pupils’ menu to be at par or better than those at upper schools. Ends