In a press statement, Dr. Mahafzah emphasized that investing in student health and proper nutrition is a direct investment in their educational future and in building the nation's human capital.
He indicated that the cooperation and partnership relations with Tkiyet Um Ali embody the Ministry's commitment to creating a healthy and equitable school environment that guarantees every child an equal opportunity to learn and grow, as we believe that addressing nutritional challenges in schools is a fundamental step to enhancing academic achievement and reducing the fatigue that may hinder the capabilities of our male and female students.
For his part, Balkar pointed out that access to healthy and sufficient food is a fundamental right guaranteed by humanitarian charters, and it is our duty to support our children in their classrooms to protect them from the impact of food poverty on their health and energy.
He expressed his pride in expanding this qualitative program in cooperation with the Ministry, the impact of which we see daily in the students' smiles and their activity inside the classrooms.
This partnership embodies a developmental approach that places the child's dignity and right to development at the core of its priorities. Based on the positive impact achieved by the first phase during the 2025/2026 academic year, which included 3,811 students in 20 public schools in the governorates of Jerash, Balqa, and Karak (with a total distribution exceeding 547,000 date bars), the program expanded the scope of protection to double its impact at the beginning of the current academic year.
This year, the program extends to reach about 8,548 students in 35 public schools across five governorates: Jerash, Irbid, Balqa, Karak, and Zarqa, following the inclusion of new schools in Irbid and Zarqa.
Field monitoring and direct impact assessment of the program showed a tangible transformation in the students' daily lives; feelings of hunger and morning fatigue have decreased, and levels of concentration and activity inside classrooms have increased, which enhances equal educational opportunities and reduces dropout and absenteeism.
