South Africa, March 4 -- These innovative desks double as school bags and are equipped with solar lights and USB charging ports, aiming to improve learning conditions for underprivileged students.

However, critics argue that such branding turns children into "walking billboards" for junk food, potentially promoting unhealthy eating habits. The Congress of the People (COPE) expressed concern over corporate branding infiltrating classrooms, emphasising that children should not be used as advertising tools.

"The handover of the desks was not a marketing event, it was a public-private partnership (PPP) where the focus was and remains providing support for learners in order to improve educational outcomes in the country," said Department of ...