The Gambian government has said that more than 328,000 pupils benefited from school feeding programmes in 2025 as part of efforts to improve education outcomes and child nutrition.

The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education says the programme, implemented with support from the World Food Programme, Catholic Relief Services and Action Against Hunger, reached 328,260 students in 823 schools across the country.

Officials said the initiative builds on the Home-Grown School Feeding programme, which sources food locally and has contributed to improved nutrition, higher school attendance and better retention rates, particularly among vulnerable children.

The Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Habibatou Drammeh, said school feeding plays a critical role in keeping children in school.

“School feeding is not just about nutrition; it is a powerful tool to keep children in school,” she said, adding that the government spent 166 million dalasis on the programme in 2025 and plans to expand it further.

In addition to providing meals, the government says it has constructed and renovated standard school kitchens in partnership with development partners, aimed at improving hygiene and the quality of food served.

The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education said the programme forms part of broader efforts to strengthen basic and secondary education, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

By Adama Makasuba