Disputes have arisen among staff at Sakhesethu Primary School, located in Sundumbili, Mandeni, on the northern coast of KwaZulu-Natal, due to allegations of theft of food allocated under the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) for needy students.
The NSNP is South Africa's school feeding system, which provides daily meals to over nine million learners, predominantly in quintiles 1–3 public schools. The program aims to alleviate hunger, improve classroom concentration, and promote healthy eating among children from less affluent backgrounds.
However, at Sakhesethu Primary School, the program has become the subject of intense controversy as some employees are allegedly involved in the misappropriation of food meant for students.
According to Adora Mzobe, a former food processing worker at the school, some teachers regularly took food designated for students; canned pilchards were among the most frequently mentioned items. Mzobe described the situation as a crisis, claiming that certain teachers dictated what dishes should be prepared and how much food to use so that leftovers could be reserved for their personal consumption.
She reported that repeated attempts to report the issue through internal school channels were unsuccessful. Mzobe stated: 'They do this so there is food left that they can steal. We tried to resolve this several times, but nothing happened.'
According to Mzobe, teachers became particularly controlling on days when high-protein dishes, specifically canned pilchards, were on the menu. She asserted: 'When we cooked pilchards, they insisted on using fewer cans and adding more water.' As a result, students received dishes with very little fish.
Mzobe added: 'If there were 36 cans of pilchards, we were ordered to use only 12. It is heartbreaking because our children receive little more than watery broth. I have never seen such cruel teachers. Someone must intervene.'
Furthermore, Mzobe stated that she lost her job after speaking out against the alleged theft. She claimed: 'I believe my dismissal letter is forged. They forgot that I know the principal's signature.' Ultimately, she stopped coming to work as she did not want to be associated with what she believed was happening.
Principal Mahosi Shabalala stated that he is on leave and is not authorized to speak to the media. A representative from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education, Mlungisi Mtshali, stated that the department is unaware of these allegations.
These statements come amid long-standing issues facing the NSNP in KwaZulu-Natal, including delayed payments to suppliers, procurement disputes, allegations of diversion and theft of food, low food quality, and infrastructure deficiencies in some educational institutions.
Despite these difficulties, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education recently received an unqualified audit opinion from the Auditor-General for the 2025/26 financial year. KwaZulu-Natal Education Minister Sifo Khumuka noted that this result reflects improvements in management, financial administration, and internal controls.
Mukhsina Shoymardonova's PhD dissertation in the field of psychology was successfully defended. The dissertation topic is 'Psychological problems of developing and perceiving a positive attitude towards innovative activities among teachers,' which deeply studied psychological issues related to teachers' attitudes towards novelty, whether negative or positive.
Lobarkhon Rustamova successfully defended her dissertation in pedagogical sciences, earning a PhD degree.
The topic of her dissertation is dedicated to improving the study of Alisher Navoi's works in general education schools using pedagogical technologies.
The Indian Army has launched the second edition of the Indian Army Internship Program (IAIP), providing access to its institutions for student interns via the national AICTE internship portal. This year, the program has been expanded by adding 43 specialized projects.
Participants in the program are provided with a scholarship of up to 75,000 rupees, which is disbursed upon successful completion of the internship and fulfillment of all program requirements. The final scholarship amount will depend on the intern's overall attendance during the period.
Internships cover areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, robotics, drone and anti-drone systems, hospital information systems, military games and simulations, and strategic communication. Through this program, the Indian Army aims to create a strong ecosystem where education, technology, and public service converge to train the next generation of innovators. The internship offers an opportunity to gain practical experience and professional exposure to the Army.
The Army's pilot project started in May 2025. Specialized trials involving technology implementation, which began in 2025 and focused on military games, simulation, and niche research, have now transformed into a structured multi-project initiative across various army departments, offering up to 43 specialized tracks.
To date, the program has received over 77,000 applications since its launch, and the application deadline is set for August 15. According to the AICTE website, a student can apply for multiple internship opportunities within the Indian Army, but can only accept one internship offer. Before accepting an offer, it should be ensured that it best aligns with the student's skills, interests, and career aspirations.
