LUANDA – In a significant move to boost primary education, the Angolan government has committed 36 billion kwanzas to fund school meals for the 2023/24 academic year. The announcement came from Ana Paula do Sacramento Neto, the Minister of Action for Action, Family and Promotion of Women, on Tuesday.
According to Angola Press News Agency, this investment aims to enhance school performance in primary education. The Minister revealed that a total of 8 million 933 thousand and 125 students are enrolled in both general and university education for the current academic year, with 1 million 560,308 being children entering the education system for the first time. The school meal initiative is part of the Integrated Program for Local Development and Combating Poverty.
Despite the substantial investment, the Minister acknowledged that the funds allocated for school meals are still not sufficient to meet the needs. She called upon companies to contribute to the program as part of their corporate social responsibility, particularly in areas where they operate. The government has started addressing the needs associated with school meals using funds from the General State Budget (OGE), but there is still a long journey ahead, as the available amount is inadequate.
The Minister highlighted the involvement of young people and women in this initiative, noting that they are working on making school meals more nutritious and affordable. She also pointed out the complexity of the situation, acknowledging the presence of vulnerable families and the need for a collective effort to address these challenges.