School canteens: a recipe for success

Reducing absenteeism and helping pupils concentrate in class are crucial challenges for any education system. Where absenteeism is high, effective strategies are essential to make sure pupils attend regularly and engage fully with their learning. So how can we reduce absenteeism where it is highest? And how can we help pupils focus better in lessons and, in turn, improve their exam results?

School canteens: a proven solution

In northern Togo, the village of Anima lies in a mountainous area that is hard to reach. Every day, pupils travel around twenty kilometres on average to get to school. The school has neither a water point nor a canteen. By midday, most of the children have had nothing to eat or drink since the morning, and they can no longer keep up with their lessons.

So we set up a school canteen to serve free daily meals to the pupils of the state school.

School canteens have many benefits. In particular, they help reduce inequality by giving every pupil fair access to nutritious meals, whatever their economic or social circumstances. They ensure that all children can enjoy healthy food and an environment that supports their development, which promotes inclusion and equal opportunities. School canteens also play a key role in teaching children about food. They give pupils the chance to discover new foods, broaden their tastes and adopt healthy eating habits. By introducing children to a variety of nutritious foods, a school canteen encourages a balanced diet and helps them make healthy food choices throughout their lives.

School canteens: jobs for local craftspeople

At LIFE, we are committed to making a positive, lasting difference to the communities we serve. Building the dining hall where the children eat, along with the community vegetable garden, created work for local craftspeople. This allowed them to boost their income and provide for their families. Taking part in the village's economic life mattered to LIFE. The vegetable garden next to the primary school supplies the school canteen. It is now up and running, looked after by teachers and pupils' parents. The first harvests have begun, and the canteen has received spinach, lettuces and beetroot. Some vegetables have even been sold, and the money raised will go towards improving the school's facilities.

Let's tackle school absenteeism together

These meals are served to pupils every day. We have seen attendance rise far above previous years. When the dining hall fills up, so do the classrooms! This school canteen project brings a double benefit: it fights malnutrition as well as absenteeism. The children are more attentive in class, and their end-of-year results prove it! According to the head teacher of Anima primary school, since LIFE's involvement the pass rate for the CFPD exams has reached 100%! The CFPD is the Certificat d'études du Premier Degré, an essential qualification in Togo for moving on to secondary school. The school had never achieved such a pass rate: last year it stood at 38%. A school canteen has a huge impact on academic performance. There is no longer any doubt: better education quality goes hand in hand with better nutrition for children.