NATIONAL SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAMME

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND The National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) previously known as Primary School Nutrition Programme (PSNP) was initiated in 1994 as one of the presidential RDP lead projects. The programme was initially administered by the Department of Health until 2003. Following the Cabinet Resolution of 2002, the programme was transferred to the Department of Education in 2004. The programme has since grown from providing nutritious meals to 1 251 140 learners in 3090 schools in 2004/2005 to 2 332 514 learners in 5272 KwaZulu-Natal schools.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The NSNP is one of Government initiative towards addressing poverty within the province. The programme targets schools in the poorest communities and benefit multitude of learners. The NSNP has since been earmarked as one of the government strategies to alleviate hunger and poverty in the communities. The programme thus contributes to the economic development of local people through co-operatives and small enterprises as service providers. The programme also contributes to economic development of local people through employment of Volunteer Food Handlers (Cooks) who prepare meals for the learners. The ratio of 1 (food handler):200 (learners) up to maximum of 8 food handlers per school is applied to allocate food handlers in participating schools

PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES TARGETING Deliver quality Nutritious food to schools Strengthen learner achievement through School Feeding-SF Enhance knowledge of Nutrition Education-NE Contribute to sustainable community development-SFP Contribute to poverty alleviation TARGETING Grade R – 12 learners are targeted Quintile 1 - 3 primary and secondary schools. Learners from Identified Special schools Needy learners in targeted Quintiles 4 and 5 schools are also targeted. The tables below provide numbers of benefitting learners and schools

TABLE OF SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING IN NSNP PER DISTRICT : 2018/19 No. of Primary Schools No. of Special Schools No. of Sec. Schools Total Amajuba 142 5 40 187 Harry Gwala 350 3 80 433 Ilembe 290 2 107 399 King Cetshwayo 428 176 609 Pinetown 282 7 81 370 Ugu 305 1 135 441 Umgungundlovu 330 8 445 Umkhanyakude 377 154 534 Umlazi 163 12 54 229 Umzinyathi 359 122 483 Uthukela 301 113 416 Zululand 538 183 726 Totals 3865 55 1352 5272

TABLE OF LEARNERS BENEFITING FROM NSNP PER DISTRICT : 2018/19 Primary Schools Enrolment Special Schools Enrolment Secondary Schools Enrolment Total Amajuba 75083 1949 33572 110604 Harry Gwala 103352 681 38716 142749 Ilembe 108109 512 51624 160245 King Cetshwayo 163268 1199 88223 252690 Pinetown 186971 1731 69514 258216 Ugu 117104 323 67413 184840 Umgungundlovu 129028 2325 63937 195290 Umkhanyakude 148642 808 85513 234963 Umlazi 115976 3600 41350 160926 Umzinyathi 119218 238 55578 175034 Uthukela 128054 703 62291 191048 Zululand 171228 774 93907 265909 Totals 1566033 14843 751638 2332514

APPOINTMENT OF SERVICE PROVIDERS Prior to 2012 the appointment of service providers was the sole function of the School Governing Bodies (SGB’s) This model system was changed into a centralized procurement model in which districts were responsible for the evaluation bids and the province for awarding and approval of appointments. The centralized model culminated into 2029 service providers appointed in January 2013 including 263 co-operatives. Currently the programme has 1885 contracted service providers. The table below shows numbers of contracted service providers per district:

APPOINTMENT OF SERVICE PROVIDERS…. All contracted service providers are issued with appointment letters signed by the Head of Department. Appointment letters detail annual budget for schools allocated to each service provider New schools are allocated service providers by the Department through normal SCM process Defaulting service providers get replaced with new service providers through normal SCM process

TABLE OF COOKS AND SERVICE PROVIDER PER DISTRICT : 2018/19 Number of Schools Number of Cooks Number of SMMEs Number of Co-ops Total No. of Service Providers Amajuba 187 600 7 75 82 Harry Gwala 433 794 9 114 123 Ilembe 399 10 121 131 King Cetshwayo 609 1527 19 203 222 Pinetown 370 1188 25 168 193 Ugu 441 906 11 147 158 Umgungundlovu 445 867 24 143 167 Umkhanyakude 534 1434 12 175 Umlazi 229 666 17 94 111 Umzinyathi 483 1116 130 141 Uthukela 416 1148 140 157 Zululand 726 1326 15 198 213 Totals 5272 12366 177 1708 1885

MENU AIMS: To reduce hunger. To address micronutrient deficiencies. To promote Nutrition Education. Economic development Seasonings include iodized salt (2ml per learner), pepper, curry powder / thickening agent to improve the taste of food in all menu options. Only fortified maize meal and flour must be used. Mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes or madumbes may be used to substitute for rice

MENU Cont.…. Pasta may be used to substitute for rice where it is acceptable Safe drinking water must be provided in all classrooms Cabbage may not be served more than twice a week Fruit must be served once per month (apples, bananas, pears, oranges) Fresh vegetables must be served (Frozen mixed vegetables may be used if approved by district in schools where there is proper refrigeration -carrots, green beans, peas) Specifications for oil, onions and tomatoes will be as follows – Oil – 5ml, Onions – 10g, tomatoes – 10g, applicable in all menus except for Thursday where an additional 5g is required for fish Use full cream UHT milk or pasteurized maas Sugar -5ml may be used with pumpkin Use NSNP compliant soya

MONITORING AND EVALUATION The conditional grant framework stipulates and emphasizes the importance of monitoring and evaluation of the programme at different levels WHAT IS MONITORED? QUANTITY: Whether correct quantities are delivered at schools and to ensure consistency Whether correct quantities are prepared so that learners are served correct portions and to avoid under-feeding or malnutrition Monitor quality and freshness of food items delivered to schools (e.g. also check expiry dates etc.) Monitor Health and Safety of food items in line with Regulation 962 and general hygiene practices Monitor storage facilities to maintain nutritional value, health and safety standards

MONITORING AND EVALUATION…. TIME: Monitor that meals are served on time Feeding should be complete by 10H00 WHO MONITORS? National Office – DBE officials Provincial Office – Provincial Office staff District – Field Workers , District NSNP Co-ordinators and other district staff Oversight Structures – Parliament, Provincial Legislature, Portfolio Committees, Office of the AG for auditing purposes etc. EVALUATION: NSNP Grant is evaluated annually As prescribed in the Division of Revenue Act (DORA) and the NSNP Conditional Grant Framework

MONITORING AND EVALUATION…. Pre-Evaluation is conducted by the province in selected schools Annual Evaluation is conducted by DBE in selected schools within identified districts PARTNERSHIP WITH FUEL: The department through NSNP has partnership with an NGO called Feed, Uplift, Educate and Love (FUEL) Trust The NGO assists the province in improving performance through enhanced monitoring and training FOCUS AREAS OF FUEL TRUST: Developing monitoring instruments and strategies (MRR) Data Capturing of monitoring scores and analysis Ongoing training of NSNP staff

NSNP SERVICE PROVIDERS PAYMENT PROCESS New Model – Single Invoice System STEP 1 -SCHOOL LEVEL : Each school completes EF73 signed by the principal, educator and SGB parent component member appearing on Annexure A to confirm that service was rendered EF 73 form together with school’s purchase order note, delivery notes, feeding register and proof of payment for food handlers honoraria and route form to accompany service provider’s invoices for claiming at the end of the month STEP 2 –SERVICE PROVIDER : Service Providers submit their monthly invoices to the district accompanied by school’s relevant supporting documentation Service Providers’ invoices specify cost per school serviced

PAYMENT PROCESS CONT…. Step 3 – District Level : NSNP Admin Staff receive and record claims Check all invoices and claim documentation for correctness and accuracy Following the verification of claims, the district processes and keep electronic data of claims received and submitted to Head Office or District Finance Four districts (Ilembe, Pinetown, Umgungundlovu and Umlazi) process payments through their District Finances Eight districts currently submit their claims to Head Office for processing and authorization of payment Admin Clerks at Head Office check and record claims received Admin Officers capture claims and prepare part payments Management (ADs & DDs) at Head Office authorizes all processed claims for forwarding to BAS for payment

PAYMENT PROCESS CONT…. Step 4 – BAS Level at H/O: All captured and authorized claims are forwarded to BAS for payment by the 10th of the following month of feeding BAS further captures all claims received against existing official orders of service providers and effect payments to service providers’ authorized accounts

The delay in paying service providers Inadequate assets CHALLENGES: The delay in paying service providers Inadequate assets The cancelled NSNP Bid PLAN TO PAY ON TIME: SUCCESSFUL PILOT The plan to pay on time is being piloted in UMgungundlovu District Current results demonstrate successful There are no outstanding payments for all UMgungundlovu District service providers All June claims may be paid within 30 days The plan will be rolled out in all districts from July

PLAN TO MITIGATE INADEQUATE NSNP ASSETS IN SCHOOLS In March 2018, the Department requested a deviation from the NSNP Business Plan 2017/18 to procure the following: 1. cooking equipment for all quintile 1- quintile 3 schools 2. protective clothing for all schools participating in NSNP 3. gas stoves to all quintile 1 – quintile 3 schools Delivery will be done in 2018/19 financial year

CANCELLED NSNP BID The Department has complied with the requirements of the Bid Appeals Tribunal The cancellation of the Bid was done New management plan has been developed Advertisement for new bid is set for November 2018

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