The University of Johannesburg’s Centre for Ecological Intelligence (CEI) hosted the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Reginah Mhaule, and a delegation from the Department of Basic Education (DBE) for a site visit to the CEI Hub and an engagement and discussion on future collaborations to strengthen food systems in schools and communities.
Speaking at the event was Prof Refilwe Phaswana-Mafuya, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation at UJ, who discussed the correlation between nutrition and academic performance, stating that a well-nourished child could concentrate better at school.
She emphasised the importance of school-based food and nutrition programmes in improving educational outcomes.
Prof Phaswana-Mafuya suggested establishing a research chair on ecological intelligence with the DBE.
“The challenges of food insecurity, malnutrition, poverty and inequality as well as water and sanitation, remain deeply interconnected. Addressing these challenges requires collaboration, especially with government.”
The CEI project leads took the delegation on a guided site tour through the seedling nursery, hydroponics facility, aquaponics system, outdoor gardens and sustainable sanitation solutions. The Deputy Minister was also joined by Prof Daniel Mashao, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE).
Deputy Minister Dr Mhaule also highlighted the impact of school nutrition programmes on learner performance, noting that well-fed children perform better academically. She also added that the Department of Health had a key role in determining the nutritional needs of the children.
The programme, which feeds 9 million children daily (since the expansion into secondary schools), has a budget of R10 billion and also includes breakfast, which encourages early attendance.
“Most of these children rely on the school meals as that is their main source of nutrition.”
She discussed the integration of ecological intelligence into the national education policy, emphasising the need for a systematic and formalised collaboration between DBE and CEI.
Deputy Minister Mhaule suggested a Memorandum of Understanding should be signed to ensure ongoing, structured cooperation involving various government departments.
After the CEI Hub tour, Deputy Minister Mhaule commended the team and UJ for its multidisciplinary approach.
Prof Michael Rudolph, CEI Director, said this approach was deliberate.
“Our multidisciplinary approach adds so much value. We can connect various fields including development, fundraising, community engagement, industrial design, graphic design and education – all working towards sustainability. I always say, a mind that expands never returns to its original dimensions. Another favourite statement of mine is that we don’t only grow plants here at CEI, we grow people. We are looking forward to further collaborating with the DBE.”
