Blog series: The role of school meals in improving access to education and learning

In this series, experts present their views on how school nutrition programs contribute to improve students’ well-being and ability to fulfill their learning potential.

February 15, 2023 by GPE Secretariat
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2 minutes read
A class before lunch in a primary school in Lao PDR. Credit: GPE/Stephan Bachenheimer
A class before lunch in a primary school in Lao PDR.
Credit: GPE/Stephan Bachenheimer

With countries seeking effective solutions to protect and invest in the future of their children, school health and nutrition programs are one of the smartest investments they can make.

Healthy and happy children learn better and are more likely to lead healthy and fulfilling lives, whereas poor nutrition leads to both physical and cognitive developmental delays.

Making the case for school health and nutrition programs has become urgent, as good health and nutrition are the foundations for learning, and thus a crucial investment for more prosperous, inclusive and peaceful societies.

This series of blogs features experts and practitioners' views about the importance of school meals to improve children’s learning.

School meals support education: Examples of programs in Mongolia, Guatemala and Chad

Programs that provide students with regular meals in school have proven impacts on short and long-term health outcomes as well as academic performance. See three examples in Mongolia, Guatemala and Chad as part of GNCF's global survey 2021.
School meals: What does the evidence tell us?

The School Meals Coalition tasked a research team to provide evidence on creating successful and cost-effective school nutrition programs. Here are 5 insights from this reseach.
Why all the talk about school meals?

The benefits of school meal programs are legion, and we can only rejoice at the enthusiasm to see more countries implement them. However, two things are still needed to continue ensuring children have the nourishment they need to learn, grow and thrive.
School health and nutrition are needed to unlock the potential of every child

At a time when countries are seeking effective and sustainable solutions for protecting and investing in the future of their children and adolescents, the new report Ready to learn and thrive: School health and nutrition around the world by UNESCO, UNICEF, WFP, GPE, FAO and WHO, demonstrates the far-reaching impacts and high returns on investment of school health and nutrition.
School meals: Read how 5 partner countries are helping students attend school

Read how GPE is supporting Burundi, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nicaragua, Somalia and Yemen to ensure students can learn in good conditions through school feeding programs.
5 suggestions to ensure school feeding programs are sustainable

Well-designed school feeding programs contribute to equity and inclusion in the most disadvantaged regions of a country. They can be powerful social safety nets. Here are 5 key aspects to take into account to ensure school feeding programs are successful.
School health

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February 18, 2023 by Sulemana Alhassan

Very good information shared. It helps CSOs in different countries to better understand the issues in different context and engage their governments whiles proposing alternatives that worked well in other countries.

February 19, 2023 by ILUTA ENGAMBI CLAUDE

Je suis d'accord avec vous en ce qui concerne le rôle des repas dans l'amélioration de la scolarisation des élèves en milieux scolaires et surtout en Afrique où la nutrition en RDC constituent un frein pour l'éducation de nos enfants.
Si les différents gouvernement qui se sont succédés dans mon pays n'ont pas arrivé à résoudre le problème de la gratuité de l'enseignement scolaire des enfants, je ne pense pas arriver aux repas. Les organisations non gouvernementales peuvent pallier sur cette question si elles arrivent à obtenir des financements dans ce sens et travaillent ensemble avec des partenaires techniques et financiers mieux outillés sur cette problématique.
C'est pourquoi, notre association ACTIONS COMMUNAUTAIRES POUR LE DEVELOPPEMENT INTEGRAL en sigle ACDI RDC est ouverte et se dit prête en cas de financement et peut toujours travailler en réseau pour satisfaire aux besoins d'une bonne alimentation des élèves en milieux scolaires à KINSHASA et en provinces. Mon contact en tant que Coordonnateur de ACDI RDC est ilutaclaude.acdi@gmail.com

December 26, 2023 by Said Nasir

Very informative, the global partners, donors, and our govt should also take initiative to start these activities in the remote rural areas of Pakistan as well.

April 28, 2024 by Patrick ilunga

Je suis congolais de Kinshasa, hôtelier de formation et de profession votre publication nous fait part par rapport au recherche que nous menons sur un projet d'étude de renforcement de cantine scolaire et universitaire.

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