The Group of Concerned Parents of Barbados has formally commended government for the free breakfast initiative, describing it as a significant step towards tackling the socioeconomic hurdles that hinder student performance.
Spokeswoman Paula Ann Moore said the policy was a long-overdue acknowledgement of the struggles faced by vulnerable households.
Mid-morning snacks of milk and crackers were introduced in Barbados 90 years ago, continuing for generations until the introduction of hot lunches in 1963.
“We commend the minister and his team on, and welcome the recent announcement of, universal primary school access to free breakfast from September 2026,” Moore said. “It acknowledges the tangible challenges which too many children face who are financially disadvantaged. No child can learn properly when they are hungry.”
She added: “Many children who display deviant behaviour at school and in the wider society come from homes which cannot or will not feed nor otherwise provide for their children….These challenges cannot be solved overnight, but this breakfast initiative — in conjunction with wider cross-ministry, collaborative efforts — is one of many which can make a huge difference in our children’s lives.”
Moore suggested that, if properly executed, the breakfast plan could also relieve what she suggested were logistical difficulties at school cafeterias.
“A universal school breakfast programme can also help all families in their morning planning, if parents are confident that their children can easily access a nutritious breakfast without the current long lines at lunchtime in the cafeteria which usually obtain daily, often requiring an entire school lunch hour wait.”
But Moore cautioned that the success of the programme will rely heavily on its financial and logistical design.
“How will we measure the success of this school breakfast initiative?” Moore asked. “Adequate planning with realistic timelines, adequate financial and other logistical resources, and accordance with the school nutrition policy ensuring healthy food is provided — all of which aren’t cheap — are all essential for long-term sustainability.”
While the ministry has signalled that the programme will be universal, the group suggested that if the government opts for any form of means testing, it must be handled with extreme care to avoid the stigmatisation of children from lower-income families.
The breakfast initiative forms part of a broader, ambitious education transformation project currently being rolled out by the ministry. Moore urged the ministry to publish more details of this overarching plan to ensure that all stakeholders remain aligned.
“Education transformation is a critical backbone of our national development,” Moore said. “It would be useful for education stakeholders and the wider public to see the comprehensive education transformation document which documents and governs this strategic plan, similar to the Jamaica Education Reform Report 2021.”
The group acknowledged that the new programme builds upon a long-standing tradition of public education in Barbados. For decades, the island has maintained a distinctive suite of social services — including universal free secondary education, textbook loan schemes and school meals — which, the group believes, places Barbados in a league of its own within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
“Modern Barbados benefits from the national policy and financial investment focus of successive governments on education,” said Moore. “This combination is unique in CARICOM, if not globally, particularly for a small developing country such as ours.”
“The proof of the pudding is in the eating,” Moore concluded. “Responsible parents and the wider civil society look forward to working with them to make the wider education transformation project a reality in every child’s life.”
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