Daily Efforts by Parents and Teachers Ensure CPT Matric Learners Don’t Go to Class Hungry

At Cape Town’s Heideveld Secondary School, parents and educators put in a lot of effort every day to make sure matric learners don’t go to class hungry.

More than 200 learners benefit from the program, which provides them with a hot, nutritious breakfast every day while they are in class before their tests.

The learners write a three-hour paper, sometimes twice a day, which can be taxing on an empty stomach, according to grade 12 teacher Marlene Douries.

“We thought: ‘Let’s see if we can not only boost learners but also their results,'” she explained.

According to Douries, the effect on the learners is enormous.

“They are nervous and anxious as they arrive early. However, they feel happier after eating breakfast. They should use that time to relax before the tests,” she told News24.

At 6:00am, members of the community come together to begin making the breakfast, which varies each morning. Each learner can select from fruit, muffins, yoghurt, cereals, eggs, and bacon by the time they sit down to eat at 7:30. Learners were greeted with French toast and a vienna smoortjie, according to News24, which recently visited the school.

Additionally, the publication stated that Douries said that all of the food was funded by donations that were raised following a social media appeal that “went viral”.

“When the students ask me, ‘What did we do to deserve this?'” I keep reassuring them that they are our country’s future. Let’s begin with a nutritious breakfast as they will be making decisions that will affect our destiny.

She stated, “I want them to understand how important they are to this country and how valuable they are to us.”

According to 18-year-old Liyema Wabana, the meal gives learners an opportunity to get together and talk about the day’s test even if it is intended for learners who don’t have food at home.

He thinks that eating a substantial breakfast gives his brain “healthy” fuel, which improves performance.

A parent of a matric student, Shanaaz Williams, is among the community members that prepare the breakfast.

“To be honest, we have no idea who goes without food at home. They may eat this as their only meal of the day. We know the kids can concentrate because they have something to eat, so it’s great to watch them like the meal,” she said.

Williams said that participating in the feeding program has allowed her to spend more time with her daughter as she takes tests.

“I would pray for her and the other children while she is writing if I could simply sit by the door. However, it gives me a sense of relief to see them enter,” she remarked.

“Since some children eat these meals as their sole meal of the day, we have always upheld the significance of these meals for our children. There is flexibility to fit our matriculants’ exam schedules, and feeding will continue while they take their exams.”

Source: https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/watch-breakfast-club-a-cape-town-community-is-turning-to-healthy-meals-to-boost-matric-results-20241026

Editor’s note: Parents and educators at this Cape Town help prepare warm meals for less fortunate learners, this helps the learners write their exams on a full stomach – eliminating brain freeze and inattention.

Description: At Heideveld Secondary School, in Heideveld, more than 200 learners benefit from the program, which provides them with a hot, nutritious breakfast every day while they are in class before their tests.

Editor: Thato Mahlangu

Project manager: Do4SA