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Free morning meal for Grades 1-5 shortly: Ed.Min.
View(s):The Education Ministry will seek Cabinet approval shortly to re-introduce a free morning meal for students from Grade 1 to 5, Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam told the Education Times.
He said this was in keeping with a pledge under the 100-Day programme announced during the presidential election campaign.
He said that a Cabinet subcommittee comprising Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, Health Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne and himself was appointed to study this provision. Minister Kariyawasam said that studies revealed that 25% of schoolchildren faced nutrition deficiencies or malnutrition.
He further said that investigations into recent deaths of schoolchildren while taking part in sports activities revealed a lack of food as one of the causes.
Education Ministry Secretary Upali Marasinghe told the Education Times that, one of the reasons to first provide this facility to students from Grades 1 to 5 is because most of these children attend school without meals.
“We believe that providing a nutritious meal will help students concentrate on their studies,”he said.
He said they intend identifying parents of the respective school to conduct the programme with funds coming from the Ministry, instead of involving school canteens.
He said Nutrition experts will be advising them on the type of the meal to be provided.
-Damith Wickremasekara