Half-a-Million Breakfasts Served Through the National School Breakfast Programme

By LLONELLA GILBERT
Bahamas Information Services

NASSAU, The Bahamas –– Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis visited Yellow Elder Primary School on Monday morning, February 17, 2025, to mark the milestone of ‘Half-a-Million Breakfasts’ served through the National School Breakfast Programme.

The Prime Minister helped to serve some of the meals and chatted with the students during his visit to the primary school.

According to the National School Breakfast Programme Fact Sheet, the Breakfast Pilot Programme was an initiative launched to improve student well-being and academic performance across The Bahamas by providing them with a nutritious meal to start their day.  The programme initially provided breakfast three days a week, with daily service for schools with 40 students or fewer and has since expanded significantly, now reaching 91 schools and serving more than 11,000 students.

Designed in collaboration with food scientists from the Ministry of Education, the breakfast menu is carefully curated to provide balanced and nourishing meals. To support this effort, 100 vendors have been hired and trained to maintain high-quality food preparation and distribution standards.

As of September 2024, the programme onboarded 78 pre-primary, primary, and all-age schools across the Family Islands, ensuring that no child starts their school day hungry.

In addition, the breakfast programme is one of the strategies used to promote student attendance and punctuality.

District Superintendent (Acting) in the Western New Providence Primary District, Jermaine Butler said, “This is tremendously important when we consider the fact that we need our students in school. A lot of our parents get up early and they do not have the time necessary and we do not want our students to buy breakfast when they can be at school.”

He added, “This is a guarantee to parents and the nation that students will be in school in a timely manner and receive a nutritious meal to enhance their learning throughout the rest of the day.”

Schools with breakfasts saw attendance rise by 3.3 percentage points in New Providence and 4.5 percentage points in the Family Islands during the 2023-2024 school year, compared to 2022-2023, on days breakfast was served.

Facts and Highlights:
• 90 schools served
• Over 11,000 Students
• 100 Vendors Hired
• Free Breakfast on The Family Islands
• 500,000 Free Meals Served

List of Islands with Schools with Breakfast:

Abaco

Prime Minister Philip Davis speaks to young toddlers of Yellow Elder Primary School while they have their breakfast

Exuma
Acklins
Grand Bahama
Andros
Inagua
Berry Islands
Long Island
Bimini
Mayaguana
Cat Island
New Providence
Crooked Island
Rum Cay
Eleuthera
San Salvador

Officer in Charge South-Central Division, Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings, and Principal, Yellow Elder Primary School, Tamica Adderley also were present for the visit.

PHOTO CAPTION

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis visited Yellow Elder Primary on Monday, February 17, 2025, to mark the milestone of ‘Half-a-Million Breakfasts’ served through the National School Breakfast Programme. Also in attendance for the visit were: Officer in Charge South-Central Division, Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings; District Superintendent Acting in the Western New Providence Primary District, Jermaine Butler; First Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Education, Daisy Higgs Principal, Yellow Elder Primary School, Tamica Adderley. (BIS Photos/Mark Ford)