Thabang Primary School in Bethlehem, Free State, has scooped the 2021/ 22 National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) Award.
Dr. Reginah Mhaule, the deputy minister of basic education, announced the NSNP winner Tuesday at the launch of the NSNP food safety video series in Pretoria.
The NSNP provides a daily nutritious meal to more than nine million school children across South Africa. The daily meal helps the school children perform better in school.
This is made possible by the hard work and dedication of officials in districts and schools.
Thabang Primary School outshined others and came out tops after the department of basic education visited and evaluated all nine of the best schools.
Each school represented a province.
Free State Education MEC Dr. Tate Makgoe congratulated the school and referred to it as an “Epitome of Excellence.”
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Makgoe added: We congratulate the principal, school governing body, teachers, learners, food handlers, partners, and the school’s community for implementing the best National School Nutrition Programme in the country”.
MEC said together they have “indeed provided safer meals for better education.
The criteria to evaluate schools effectiveness is providing nutrition education, innovation and creativity, learner engagement, adherence to food safety and Covid-19 protocols, and stakeholders participation.
“We are grateful that Thabang Primary School is the best in the country, said school principal, Seyanokeng Sejake.
She attributed the school’s success to the support of the school governing body, management, and all the parents.
The principal added: “This award is dedicated to the school community and is a symbol that one should always do good even if no one is looking”.
The school won a fully equipped industrial kitchen set worth R450 000.
