The Government’s school feeding programme will carry on this term, a government official has confirmed.
Speaking to The Sunday Mail ahead of schools reopening on Tuesday, Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Angeline Gata said the programme might be reduced, as most families can now manage to provide at least two meals a day. She said:
We are going to go ahead with the school feeding scheme. It might not be on the full throttle that we have been administering, given that most families will have at least a hot meal in the morning and maybe in the evening also.
So, we will see, but we are still going to continue with the school feeding programme. We will maybe be targeting the most vulnerable learners, but the programme will continue.
The ministries of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development; and Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare will inform us more about the programme, but as per now, the plan stays in place.
On the issue of school fees, Gata said that schools are not allowed to raise fees on their own and must get official approval first. She said:
The ministry does not just allow schools to hike fees. Depending on the needs of schools, fees can only be increased with the express approval of the Permanent Secretary.
As a matter of procedure, schools have to apply to the Permanent Secretary indicating their justification for the increase of fees.
The request can be approved or turned down depending on the justification given by the school authorities.
More: HeraldOnline
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