The Ka Ora, Ka Ako Healthy School Lunch Programme is meeting — and, in some cases, exceeding — expectations when measured against stakeholder criteria, according to new analysis by the Public Health Communication Centre.
The future of the programme was yet to be assured as Associate Education Minister David Seymour has asked that the government-funded lunch provision be reviewed ahead of the May Budget.
In view of the review, University of Auckland professor Boyd Swinburn and co-authors undertook a Value for Investment analysis to examine programme expectations and how it was measuring up.
The analysis found the programme rated extremely well against its primary outcomes — alleviating hunger in schools; providing healthy eating; reducing financial burden; increasing mana; and strengthening local economies.
"The mental health score for those kids who are food insecure has increased 20%, meaning happier, more engaged students," said Swinburn, who added that hunger made learning maths and science "near impossible".
"The range of positive feedback from the school survey of benefits in school engagement is also strong and consistent and the latest analysis of school attendance showed significantly greater attendance amongst the most under-served kids."
The programme also measured well economically as it met all relevant government and ministerial policies and procedures.
The analysis also showed the fact all children at participating schools were entitled to the lunches greatly contributed to efficiency.
Swinburn said the main barrier to improving this efficiency was a lack of certainty regarding the future of the programme,
Schools offering the programme tended to have students who are the most disadvantaged.
However, Swinburn said that meant about 60% of students who lived in households with food insecurity were not included in the programme.
Swinburn said Ka Ora, Ka Ako was performing "very well" against 21 stakeholder criteria but there was room for improvement such as secure funding for the programme.
"We also suggest identifying ways to expand the programme, undertaking a formal cost-effectiveness study, and building in more environmental sustainability aspects."
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