Education minister Hang Chuon Naron (left) attended the first School Meals Coalition Global Summit in Paris last week. MOEYS
Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron led a Cambodian delegation to the first School Meals Coalition Global Summit, held in the French capital Paris with a focus on sustainable school meals for children.
According to a ministry press release, the October 18- 19 meeting revolved around investment in the next generation “Human Resources, Sustainable School Meals Systems”.
Launched in 2021 by the World Food Programme (WFP), with the support of France and Finland, this coalition aims to offer every child in the world access to school meals by 2030, to enable them to learn and grow.
French president Emmanuel Macron organised the event, assigning Chrysoula Zacharopouloua – Minister of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships – as his representative.
Zacharopouloua stressed the importance of the school meal programme, as it not only gives children access to education but also provides many other benefits, including health and nutrition, food system transformation, environmental activities, peace promotion, equity and equality, and economic growth.
She said the purpose of the meeting was to show the strong commitment of member countries to expand and invest in school meal scheme, giving every child around the world the opportunity to access the programme.
It also provided a chance to facilitate partnerships and launch ambitious initiatives related to school meal programmes, climate activities and education. The coalition aimed to put school meal programmes on the global agenda, in order to contribute to addressing some of the major challenges and changing models in economic development and well-being, including peace, social unity and global stability.
Chuon Naron thanked the governments of France and Finland for initiating the summit.
He said the global forum was a testament to the joint commitment of leaders from 90 countries and 98 development partners, including UN agencies, donors, national and international organisations, and researchers to increase the provision of school meals and change education services in the 21st century.
“The Cambodian government has instructed the education ministry to implement a school meal programme to create a safety net for children from impoverished and vulnerable families, who may face food insecurity or malnutrition,” he added.
The programme aims to encourage children to come to school on time and actively participate in learning activities. It is expected to reduce absences and dropout rates, while increasing graduation rates at the primary level.
In addition to the school meal programme, the Cambodian government collaborated with the WEP to implement the Food Scholarship Programme from 2004-19, and expanded the cash scholarship programme 2011-18 to students in grades 4-6 from impoverished and vulnerable families.
The food and cash programme was gradually transferred to the government from 2015 until its completion in 2019, in accordance with the roadmap for the implementation of the school meal programme 2015-21.
It contributes to promoting the equitable enrolment of children, enhances the efficiency and quality of education, and increases the participation of all stakeholders.
The government contributes about 2,000 tonnes of milled rice per year to the WEP to implement the programme.
