Jordan launches strategy to link school meals to student health
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Jordan’s Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development launched its National School Feeding Strategy for 2026 to 2030, aiming to improve student health and learning outcomes across the Kingdom.
Education experts believe the strategy is important because it views food as an integral part of the learning environment, not just a meal. They say that better nutrition supports students’ concentration, attendance, and overall readiness to learn, especially in underserved areas.
The strategy is built around four key areas: establishing a legal framework for the program, expanding access to healthy meals based on scientific standards, building partnerships with local communities and the private sector, and ensuring the program’s long-term sustainability. Currently, the program provides meals to around half a million students in approximately 2,400 schools, and the ministry intends to increase this number in the coming years.
Experts also emphasize the importance of nutritional awareness and healthy habits, suggesting schools incorporate lessons on food choices and ingredients into the curriculum. They stress the need for coordination between the Ministries of Education and Health, families, and communities to ensure the strategy’s success, as well as continuous monitoring of its impact on student health, attendance, and academic performance. The World Food Programme will continue to support Jordan in implementing the strategy.
