Education Transformation Minister Chad Blackman has told parents that the new breakfast programme for primary schools, starting Monday, is meant to give students energy without overwhelming them.
Blackman confirmed at a news conference that the programme, which he described as historic, will be offered in all public primary and nursery schools. He explained that the aim is not only to provide food, but also to give children the nutrition they need to focus and succeed in class.
He also said that experts have planned the portion sizes to help kids stay alert and ready for the school day.
“The breakfast will not be one that will send them to sleep,” the Minister told reporters. “It’s not going to be a massive breakfast. We’ve made the determination, and I want to commend the School Meals Department, the Permanent Secretary and management team for working together and presenting a very exciting menu. It makes me think that I left primary school a little too early as well.”
He explained that modernising the school feeding framework has been a long-standing public request, and the ministry has worked diligently to update the School Meals Department to ensure high quality across all educational facilities.
“We’ve heard the concerns throughout the years. I mean, we all in one way or another went to primary school, and we’ve heard the suggestions from the public,” he said. “They want to see a new and improved School Meals Department, and we’ve been working assiduously to ensure not just from the breakfast programme, but that school meals itself comes of age.”
In response to questions about secondary school students facing financial hardship or food insecurity, the Minister clarified that support systems are in place and under review. While the Universal Breakfast Programme begins with primary and nursery schools, existing provisions for older students remain unchanged.
“The School Meals Department already provides meals for those in secondary school who have needs. But the consultations over the last few months have also brought up that there may be a greater need for us to do it across the board. Certainly, the government has not made that determination as yet, but what will continue in the meantime is that the School Meals Department will continue to provide breakfast for those in need.”
Furthermore, Minister Blackman underscored the ongoing public-private partnerships that have historically addressed nutritional gaps for older students, assuring the public that these partnerships will remain active while wider government policy is formalised.
”Additionally, those persons who were in the breakfast programmes prior to the government having its own breakfast programme will also continue to work with us, and they are now providing breakfast for those students at the secondary level as well,” Blackman said.
“I want to give the country the assurance that it will be looked at by the ministry, of course, and government widely, to see where we go next and to look at the broad perspective of ensuring that all students, irrespective of primary or secondary, have adequate nutrition.”
Reiterating his commitment to the Monday launch, the Minister reaffirmed that the infrastructure is ready to deliver universal access across all public primary schools immediately.
”We’re doing everything to ensure that our children, and not just the children, but teachers as well, are comfortable in the school environment,” he said.
(RR)
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