CAIRO, Aug 6, 2018 (MENA) - Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli said on Monday that the National School Feeding Programme targets 11.2 million students and costs the government LE 972 million. The school feeding programme is one of the main tools of social protection and a main pillar of the social safety net, the premier said during a meeting over the start of the school feeding programme for the new academic year. Ministers of social solidarity, supply and internal trade, education, health and population and local development together with representatives of bodies concerned attended the meeting. The programme is also a basic element in any effective educational system as good nutrition has a positive effect on schoolchildren's health, cognitive capacities and school attendance, Madbouli said. Talks covered proposed nutritional components of the school meal and measures taken to guarantee its safety. Spokesman for the cabinet Ashraf Sultan said the meeting tackled a scientific study conducted as regards the main elements needed in the meal to meet the nutritional needs of school children. Last year, the government agreed to expand the programme to reach all government-run schools nationwide in a bid to ease financial burdens on needy families, alleviate poverty, bring down school dropping rate and improve students' nutrition. The World Food Programme has been supporting the programme since 1968.
