Minister of Education, Douglas Siakalima has commended the French government for the donation of food worth 2.8 million Euros to support Zambia’s emergency school feeding programme.

Mr Siakalima said the donated food reflects the Government’s strategic effort to address the food insecurity that threatens to disrupt the education sector in the country.

Speaking during the handover of yellow split peas by the French Government to Zambia in Chongwe District, Mr Siakalima explained that the donated food is targeting 36 districts and will benefit 970,000 learners across 18 districts.

He added that the donation of food by the French Government is in addition to the funds France donated to Zambia in 2024, amounting to k392 million for emergency school feeding in 36 districts which were not on the Zambian home-grown school meals programme. 

“These yellow split peas will complement the cereals provided by the Zambian Government, and will sustain school feeding programmes for the 2025 academic year, this will have an immediate and lasting impact on nutritional wellbeing of our learners, ” he said. 

The Minister reiterated that the Government remains committed to addressing the impact of the drought by ensuring that no child is left behind in academy matters.

And French Minister for International partners, Than Mohamed-Soilihi said France is committed to helping Zambia fight food insecurity.

He acknowledged that the link between Education and nutrition is key, hence the donation of food to ensure that children have something in their stomach while at school and focus on learning.