Publications
Partners
By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa
It is highly important for the Africn continent to follow up on new initiatives aimed at bettering the lives of the people.
One just development is what has resulted in March 1, to be marked as the first edition of the Africa Day of School Feeding.
The Day was observed jointly by the African Union Commission, AU Member States and development partners.
Being one of the launchpads for attaining the Agenda 2063, school feeding has been identified as an opportunity to prevent the high rate of school drop-outs, an idea well espoused in the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA).
The Africa Day of School Feeding is further expected to stimulate information and experience sharing among stakeholders; support and promote local economy, whilst encouraging and inviting partners and political organizations to promote the initiative.
Fundamentally, The Day, is centered on the theme “Home Grown School Feeding: a Conduit for Africa’s Sustainable Development”, is celebrated with continent-wide activities and highlighted by series of official events in the Nigerien capital, Niamey.
Instituted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government during the 26th AU Summit, Africa Day for School Feeding is in recognition of the immense value of home grown school feeding to enhancing retention and performance of children in school.
And also, in boosting income generation and entrepreneurship in local communities.
According to the AU a number of African countries are already implementing school feeding programmes, but due to inadequate financing and heavy dependence of the programmes on foreign donors, poor logistical arrangements and provision of dry food lacking in dietary diversity, the programmes often fall short of meeting the required impact.
This is one reason why the emphasis has shifted to Home Grown School Feeding (HGSF), due to its integrated, multi-sector approach.
Africa Day of School Feeding is the culmination of several initiatives and efforts aimed at assuring quality universal school enrolment in Africa, and putting school feeding at the centre of solutions to help African children from the poorest households, and who live in difficult areas, to have access to quality education in a safe and conducive environment.
The Cost of Hunger in Africa Study (COHA) was conceived close to a decade of the launch of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), which aims to among other things, transform agriculture and catalyze it to achieve sustainable annual economic growth, food and nutrition security and humanitarian goals.
Commissioned through a partnership of the Africa Union Commission, the NEPAD Agency, the United Nations World Food Programme and United Nation’s Economic Commission for Africa, the COHA study specifically demonstrates that child nutrition can be a determining factor in achieving Africa's transformation agenda and illustrates the additional barriers limiting undernourished children to gain full health, school performance and compete in labour markets.
Moreover, the AU Commission’s drive to ingrain home grown school feeding on the continent was also inspired by the highly successful Brazilian Home Grown School Feeding programme, which has been instrumental in promoting universal access to basic education and preventive health services, while creating new income generating activities for extremely poor families.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is working with 65 nations worldwide on implementing school feeding programmes which are an effective safety net, helping to ensure that over 18 million children have access to education and food.
In Africa alone, WFP works with some 39 nations. In the fight against hunger, school meals are a sound investment in the future of the next generation.
According to the AU report, "The Republic of Niger has offered to host the first edition of the celebrations considering its strong advocacy for home grown school feeding, with emphasis on the impacts such a programme could have within the framework of Education by 2030, notably the improvement of access to and completion of primary education in relation to the fight against early marriages and street children."
"The official celebrations in Niamey attracted the participation of top level officials of AU Member States, Nigerien government officials, the AUC, school children and development partners such as the WFP, UNICEF, FAO, among others."
It also included thematic discussions, brainstorming, as well as idea and experience sharing involving a wide range of stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the South African government seems to be going on an all out educational revolution.
Last year‚ the government revealed it intended to provide education to about 12-million adults and youth with a qualification lower than a Grade 9 (formerly standard 7) by opening Community Education and Training Colleges (CETC).
According to the national policy on CETC‚ published in the Government Gazette on Friday‚ "The CETC are intended to provide ‘second-chance learning opportunities for out-of-school youth and adults’."The intention is for these institutions to provide education and training for those unable to get into universities or Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges (TVTC).
Meanwhile‚ according to the FET Colleges website‚ the South African education system is administered by the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Higher Education and Training.
The Department of Basic Education‚ administers school education from Grade R to Grade 12‚ while the Department of Higher Education and Training administers post-school education and training.
Post-school education and training includes universities and private higher education institutions‚ TVET colleges and private colleges‚ soon to be established community colleges‚ Sector Education and Training Authorities‚ regulatory bodies such as the South African Qualifications Authority‚ and quality councils.
Technical and vocational education and training comprises vocational‚ occupational and artisan education‚ and training as offered by TVET colleges.
Also revealed was that the programmes on offer would be determined by community needs and the needs of the state.
"They will include early childhood development‚ entrepreneurship‚ motor mechanics‚ plumbing‚ construction‚ carpentry‚ electricity‚ welding and auto body repair‚" government communications said.
Moreover, as part of efforts to promote and accelerate the implementation of Agenda 2063, The African Union Commission (AUC) participated in the Simulation of the African Union’s Summit, held in Tunis, Tunisia from 14 to 15 May 2016.
The simulation exercise was held under the theme ''2016 - African Year of Human Rights with particular focus on Women rights'' with main objectives of involving African Youth and engaging them on their duty to promote and maintain unity, peace and development on the continent; establish a culture of shared responsibility and leadership; create awareness of the role, the organisation and importance of the AU at continental and international level and highlight the issue of economic, social and security policies facing the African Continent.
In her address, Dr. Beatrice Njenga on behalf Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and the African Union Commission commended the organisers and participants of the simulation for taking practical action towards building the Africa they want. “Indeed, our superordinate goal is to ensure a united and “integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena”. Such an Africa ought to holistically address the needs and aspirations of young people who constitute over 65 per cent of our population. This is what motivated Africa’s leaders to conduct worldwide consultations during 2013 with a simple question to all Africans here and in the diaspora; “what type of Africa would you want to see in the year 2063”. Dreaming long term has offered us a blue print for Africa’s development over the next 50 years or so. The product of those dreams has given the continent a new lease of life through the aspirations and implementation programme of Agenda 2063, The Africa We Want’, she said.
Dr. Njenga added, that “African Union Commission is committed to partner young Africans at any given opportunity such as this and ensuring that appropriate platforms are made available for you to be active players in all the key development activities in the continent.
Such investments and opportunities in young Africans by the African union include internships; the African Union Youth volunteer Corps (AU-YVC) programme, and scholarships including the Mwalimu Nyerere and the Pan African University, Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards and Research Grants, celebration of African Youth Heroes among others.”
Njenga further called for strengthening linkages among youth organisations across the continent, including African Union Clubs for strengthening intra-African collaboration.
The Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Tunisia, Chiheb Bouden in his address highlighted the importance of holding such events to provide opportunity for young Africans to understand the economic, political and social challenges facing the development of African as well as boost co-operation among African citizens.
He challenged the youth to make good use of the platform to play their role as strategic population for the next phase of Africa’s development.
"The platform is good grounds for preparing African youth for productive life and diplomatic practice."
It is highly important for the Africn continent to follow up on new initiatives aimed at bettering the lives of the people.
One just development is what has resulted in March 1, to be marked as the first edition of the Africa Day of School Feeding.
The Day was observed jointly by the African Union Commission, AU Member States and development partners.
Being one of the launchpads for attaining the Agenda 2063, school feeding has been identified as an opportunity to prevent the high rate of school drop-outs, an idea well espoused in the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA).
The Africa Day of School Feeding is further expected to stimulate information and experience sharing among stakeholders; support and promote local economy, whilst encouraging and inviting partners and political organizations to promote the initiative.
Fundamentally, The Day, is centered on the theme “Home Grown School Feeding: a Conduit for Africa’s Sustainable Development”, is celebrated with continent-wide activities and highlighted by series of official events in the Nigerien capital, Niamey.
Instituted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government during the 26th AU Summit, Africa Day for School Feeding is in recognition of the immense value of home grown school feeding to enhancing retention and performance of children in school.
And also, in boosting income generation and entrepreneurship in local communities.
According to the AU a number of African countries are already implementing school feeding programmes, but due to inadequate financing and heavy dependence of the programmes on foreign donors, poor logistical arrangements and provision of dry food lacking in dietary diversity, the programmes often fall short of meeting the required impact.
This is one reason why the emphasis has shifted to Home Grown School Feeding (HGSF), due to its integrated, multi-sector approach.
Africa Day of School Feeding is the culmination of several initiatives and efforts aimed at assuring quality universal school enrolment in Africa, and putting school feeding at the centre of solutions to help African children from the poorest households, and who live in difficult areas, to have access to quality education in a safe and conducive environment.
The Cost of Hunger in Africa Study (COHA) was conceived close to a decade of the launch of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), which aims to among other things, transform agriculture and catalyze it to achieve sustainable annual economic growth, food and nutrition security and humanitarian goals.
Commissioned through a partnership of the Africa Union Commission, the NEPAD Agency, the United Nations World Food Programme and United Nation’s Economic Commission for Africa, the COHA study specifically demonstrates that child nutrition can be a determining factor in achieving Africa's transformation agenda and illustrates the additional barriers limiting undernourished children to gain full health, school performance and compete in labour markets.
Moreover, the AU Commission’s drive to ingrain home grown school feeding on the continent was also inspired by the highly successful Brazilian Home Grown School Feeding programme, which has been instrumental in promoting universal access to basic education and preventive health services, while creating new income generating activities for extremely poor families.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is working with 65 nations worldwide on implementing school feeding programmes which are an effective safety net, helping to ensure that over 18 million children have access to education and food.
In Africa alone, WFP works with some 39 nations. In the fight against hunger, school meals are a sound investment in the future of the next generation.
According to the AU report, "The Republic of Niger has offered to host the first edition of the celebrations considering its strong advocacy for home grown school feeding, with emphasis on the impacts such a programme could have within the framework of Education by 2030, notably the improvement of access to and completion of primary education in relation to the fight against early marriages and street children."
"The official celebrations in Niamey attracted the participation of top level officials of AU Member States, Nigerien government officials, the AUC, school children and development partners such as the WFP, UNICEF, FAO, among others."
It also included thematic discussions, brainstorming, as well as idea and experience sharing involving a wide range of stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the South African government seems to be going on an all out educational revolution.
Last year‚ the government revealed it intended to provide education to about 12-million adults and youth with a qualification lower than a Grade 9 (formerly standard 7) by opening Community Education and Training Colleges (CETC).
According to the national policy on CETC‚ published in the Government Gazette on Friday‚ "The CETC are intended to provide ‘second-chance learning opportunities for out-of-school youth and adults’."The intention is for these institutions to provide education and training for those unable to get into universities or Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges (TVTC).
Meanwhile‚ according to the FET Colleges website‚ the South African education system is administered by the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Higher Education and Training.
The Department of Basic Education‚ administers school education from Grade R to Grade 12‚ while the Department of Higher Education and Training administers post-school education and training.
Post-school education and training includes universities and private higher education institutions‚ TVET colleges and private colleges‚ soon to be established community colleges‚ Sector Education and Training Authorities‚ regulatory bodies such as the South African Qualifications Authority‚ and quality councils.
Technical and vocational education and training comprises vocational‚ occupational and artisan education‚ and training as offered by TVET colleges.
Also revealed was that the programmes on offer would be determined by community needs and the needs of the state.
"They will include early childhood development‚ entrepreneurship‚ motor mechanics‚ plumbing‚ construction‚ carpentry‚ electricity‚ welding and auto body repair‚" government communications said.
Moreover, as part of efforts to promote and accelerate the implementation of Agenda 2063, The African Union Commission (AUC) participated in the Simulation of the African Union’s Summit, held in Tunis, Tunisia from 14 to 15 May 2016.
The simulation exercise was held under the theme ''2016 - African Year of Human Rights with particular focus on Women rights'' with main objectives of involving African Youth and engaging them on their duty to promote and maintain unity, peace and development on the continent; establish a culture of shared responsibility and leadership; create awareness of the role, the organisation and importance of the AU at continental and international level and highlight the issue of economic, social and security policies facing the African Continent.
In her address, Dr. Beatrice Njenga on behalf Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and the African Union Commission commended the organisers and participants of the simulation for taking practical action towards building the Africa they want. “Indeed, our superordinate goal is to ensure a united and “integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena”. Such an Africa ought to holistically address the needs and aspirations of young people who constitute over 65 per cent of our population. This is what motivated Africa’s leaders to conduct worldwide consultations during 2013 with a simple question to all Africans here and in the diaspora; “what type of Africa would you want to see in the year 2063”. Dreaming long term has offered us a blue print for Africa’s development over the next 50 years or so. The product of those dreams has given the continent a new lease of life through the aspirations and implementation programme of Agenda 2063, The Africa We Want’, she said.
Dr. Njenga added, that “African Union Commission is committed to partner young Africans at any given opportunity such as this and ensuring that appropriate platforms are made available for you to be active players in all the key development activities in the continent.
Such investments and opportunities in young Africans by the African union include internships; the African Union Youth volunteer Corps (AU-YVC) programme, and scholarships including the Mwalimu Nyerere and the Pan African University, Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards and Research Grants, celebration of African Youth Heroes among others.”
Njenga further called for strengthening linkages among youth organisations across the continent, including African Union Clubs for strengthening intra-African collaboration.
The Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Tunisia, Chiheb Bouden in his address highlighted the importance of holding such events to provide opportunity for young Africans to understand the economic, political and social challenges facing the development of African as well as boost co-operation among African citizens.
He challenged the youth to make good use of the platform to play their role as strategic population for the next phase of Africa’s development.
"The platform is good grounds for preparing African youth for productive life and diplomatic practice."
