Education Department seeks new school feeding scheme service providers
Current service providers will however continue their services until the new contracts are in place to ensure feeding in schools is not interrupted.
THE KZN Department of Education is to appoint new National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) service providers following a decision to cancel existing contracts.
‘Following the outcome of a failed appeal by some NSNP bid applicants, the department is going to cancel all NSNP service providers’ contracts – the first step in the process of re-advertising and appointing new service providers,’ the department said.
Current service providers will however continue their services until the new contracts are in place to ensure feeding in schools is not interrupted.‘
ALSO READ: School feeding scheme tender process ‘flawed’ says tribunal
Last year the Democratic Alliance in KZN called on finance MEC Belinda Scott to ensure that a proper school feeding scheme tender process is re-instituted after the existing bidding process was found to be flawed by the Bid Appeals Tribunal.
‘It is recommended that the MEC for finance set aside the awards in every instance and direct that the bidding process commence afresh,’ the tribunal said in its judgment.
The nutrition programme process in the province has been marred by allegations of irregularities and corruption, which resulted in many appeals being submitted.
The South African Democratic Teacher’s Union in KZN said many learners were deprived access to meals because some of the suppliers ‘persistently reneged on contractual obligations, but continued to be paid by the department’.
The department has maintained that it is committed to providing food for learners from destitute families and depend on the programme. It also denied allegations of corruption.
‘It is through this very programme that we have been able to reduce school dropouts, curb absenteeism and ensure no learner goes to class on an empty stomach,’ the department said.
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