A full stomach helps children concentrate better on their lessons. But not every family can afford three square meals for their children each day. The school feeding programme, in which a meal or snack is provided by the school daily for each child, is an excellent way to channel vital nutrition to children each day. When school attendance is low, even one meal or snack per day will motivate children to attend school, and parents also will be motivated to send their children to school. The school feeding program implemented by the government is critical to Guyana’s development because the improved attendance attained through it, means that more of our children will be educated. The estimated $800Million school feeding program, designed by the government to improve students’ attendance and performance, has already been proven successful, since students’ attendance have already significantly improved in the Regions where this initiative is undertaken.
Education is critical to social and structural development in society. It helps people to build communities, allows them to live healthy and productive lives, empowers women, and allows countries to enjoy sustained economic growth. The school feeding program is a wonderful way of ensuring this.