Extended school nutrition programme faces payment delays in Gauteng
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has confirmed payment delays affecting its Extended National School Nutrition Programme but assured that daily meal provisions for learners remain a priority.
Payment delays have been reported within the Gauteng Department of Education’s (GDE) Extended National School Nutrition Programme (ENSNP), which is accompanied by a clarification regarding the current circumstances.
The National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) is a national initiative managed by the Department of Basic Education, providing daily nutritious meals to learners in no-fee-paying schools.
“These institutions serve some of the most vulnerable learners within the country, with funding supplied via a national grant,” explained GDE’s spokesperson Steve Mabona.
Mabona said in Gauteng, the NSNP continues seamlessly, and meal provisions for learners in no-fee-paying schools remain unaffected.
Mabona further explained that socio-economic changes in the province over recent years have resulted in an increasing number of vulnerable children attending fee-paying schools.
In response, the GDE has implemented the ENSNP, a provincially funded initiative. He emphasised that disadvantaged learners in fee-paying schools also receive nutritious meals daily.
“Nevertheless, the rapid increase in the number of learners requiring nutritional support at fee-paying schools [which cater to less poor communities] has exerted significant pressure on provincial funding for the ENSNP. This surge correlates directly with the rising socio-economic vulnerabilities among families who were previously self-sufficient. Furthermore, budget cuts at the provincial level have imposed additional strain on this vital programme. Despite these financial challenges, the GDE remains committed to prioritising the daily provision of meals for learners and ensuring smooth operations,” Mabona continued.
He also indicated that delays in payment processing to certain service providers under the extended programme have led to disruptions, which are currently being addressed in collaboration with these providers.
Additionally, the government is presently reviewing the school quintile classification system to align funding allocations with current socio-economic realities better. The review aims to establish a more accurate and responsive categorisation of schools, acknowledging that the traditional division between fee-paying and non-fee-paying schools no longer fully captures the financial circumstances of many families.
“The department affirms its commitment to settling all outstanding payments and supporting service providers in their essential roles,” he concluded.
