Over 220 govt schools go without food in 2025
Ministry blames drought and high maize prices
One school in Kunene has revealed that it has not received any food supplies since the dawn of the current year.
The Namibia School Feeding Programme (NSFP), launched in 2023, is failing to deliver food to at least 224 government schools in 2025, with one school in the Kunene Region having received no supplies since the beginning of the year.
A teacher at the Kunene school, who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation, said: “Usually a vehicle arrives at the school at the beginning of every semester and drops off sacks of maize meal, but this year no one has been here at all.”
She made the remarks during a visit to Ondao Primary School by this journalist nearly two weeks ago.
An investigation by this publication has revealed that more than 224 schools, all of which are supposed to benefit from the NSFP, have not received any food this year. The worst-hit areas include some of the country’s most impoverished regions: Omaheke (27 schools affected), Kunene (95 schools), and Zambezi (102 schools).
The education ministry has acknowledged the disruption in food supplies, attributing the issue to drought and the soaring price of maize meal.
“The ministry of education has two running tenders for the supply of food for its school feeding programme. One tender is for the procurement of protein, sugar and salt (these ingredients should be blended with the maize meal that should be delivered to schools), while the other tender is for the provision of maize, blending and transportation to the regional warehouse,” the ministry said in response to questions.
“There has been a low supply of maize from our suppliers countrywide due to the price increase of maize as a result of the drought. The price that suppliers bid for became relatively low, making the maize not affordable to most of our suppliers.”
When asked how long the food shortages are expected to persist - despite improved rainfall this year - the ministry said: “The regional office places an order to the suppliers (one for ingredients and one for the maize and blending), based on the number of learners vis-à-vis the number of school days. The quantity of needed food comes from each and every school for a particular school term, then the delivery will be done based on the order.”
To help manage the distribution process, the ministry has developed the Namibia School Feeding Information System (NaSIS), a platform designed to track food deliveries in real time.
“The system is fully functional, and the ministry will run a series of training in July 2025, for all regions to be able to make use of the system,” it said.
The ministry further stated that the current blending contract came to an end last week. “The ministry will get food supply from AMTA [Agro Marketing and Trade Agency] for the next semester. The ministry will have a contingent plan so that when the contracted supplier fails to deliver due to some reasons, the ministry will be able to arrest the situation as quickly as possible.”
AMTA has confirmed receipt of an order for 300 tons (6,000 bags) of maize meal to supply the Oshana, Omaheke, Zambezi and Kunene regions. Taking into account its milling capacity and workforce, the agency expects to complete delivery by the end of June 2025. Some maize has already reached Oshana as of 7 June.
“AMTA is committed to supporting food security and nutrition in Namibia,” the company stated.
The school feeding programme is intended to reduce inequality and expand access to education for disadvantaged children, especially orphans and vulnerable learners.
A teacher at the Kunene school, who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation, said: “Usually a vehicle arrives at the school at the beginning of every semester and drops off sacks of maize meal, but this year no one has been here at all.”
She made the remarks during a visit to Ondao Primary School by this journalist nearly two weeks ago.
An investigation by this publication has revealed that more than 224 schools, all of which are supposed to benefit from the NSFP, have not received any food this year. The worst-hit areas include some of the country’s most impoverished regions: Omaheke (27 schools affected), Kunene (95 schools), and Zambezi (102 schools).
The education ministry has acknowledged the disruption in food supplies, attributing the issue to drought and the soaring price of maize meal.
“The ministry of education has two running tenders for the supply of food for its school feeding programme. One tender is for the procurement of protein, sugar and salt (these ingredients should be blended with the maize meal that should be delivered to schools), while the other tender is for the provision of maize, blending and transportation to the regional warehouse,” the ministry said in response to questions.
“There has been a low supply of maize from our suppliers countrywide due to the price increase of maize as a result of the drought. The price that suppliers bid for became relatively low, making the maize not affordable to most of our suppliers.”
When asked how long the food shortages are expected to persist - despite improved rainfall this year - the ministry said: “The regional office places an order to the suppliers (one for ingredients and one for the maize and blending), based on the number of learners vis-à-vis the number of school days. The quantity of needed food comes from each and every school for a particular school term, then the delivery will be done based on the order.”
To help manage the distribution process, the ministry has developed the Namibia School Feeding Information System (NaSIS), a platform designed to track food deliveries in real time.
“The system is fully functional, and the ministry will run a series of training in July 2025, for all regions to be able to make use of the system,” it said.
The ministry further stated that the current blending contract came to an end last week. “The ministry will get food supply from AMTA [Agro Marketing and Trade Agency] for the next semester. The ministry will have a contingent plan so that when the contracted supplier fails to deliver due to some reasons, the ministry will be able to arrest the situation as quickly as possible.”
AMTA has confirmed receipt of an order for 300 tons (6,000 bags) of maize meal to supply the Oshana, Omaheke, Zambezi and Kunene regions. Taking into account its milling capacity and workforce, the agency expects to complete delivery by the end of June 2025. Some maize has already reached Oshana as of 7 June.
“AMTA is committed to supporting food security and nutrition in Namibia,” the company stated.
The school feeding programme is intended to reduce inequality and expand access to education for disadvantaged children, especially orphans and vulnerable learners.
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