By Chisomo Phiri
Minister of Education, Science and Technology Bright Msaka has commended the World Food Programme (WFP) for its continued support to Malawi, particularly through the School Feeding Programme, which he describes as a key investment in the country’s future.
The minister made the remarks on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by a WFP delegation to the Ministry’s headquarters.
Msaka highlighted the programme’s impact, noting that it has contributed to higher school attendance, reduced dropout rates, and improved academic performance.
“This initiative not only helps children escape poverty but also invests in the citizens of tomorrow,” he said.
The minister also praised WFP’s homegrown approach to implementation, saying it promotes sustainability and encourages ownership by schools and local communities.
He assured the delegation that the government remains committed to supporting and collaborating with WFP to ensure the programme continues.
On his part,WFP Country Director and Representative Hyoung-Joon Lim described the School Feeding Programme as a strategic entry point for broader national development, emphasizing its role in building healthy and well-educated human capital.
Lim encouraged the government to take full ownership of the programme and work towards establishing a national school feeding system that reaches all schoolchildren by 2030, in line with national policy goals.
Since 1999, WFP has provided meals to 825,000 schoolchildren across 788 primary schools and 140 Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres in Malawi.