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Funding for school meals to increase as students faint

16 Sep 2022

BY Buwanajee Coralage   Secretary to the Ministry of Education Nihal Ranasinghe stated that the proposal to increase the fund allocated to provide school meals for approximately 1,100,000 children, to Rs. 100 from Rs. 60, has been submitted to Cabinet for approval.   “The needful has been done by the Education Ministry to address malnutrition among schoolchildren to the best of its capacity. We have sent a Cabinet proposal to increase the amount allocated for school meals to Rs. 100. This was recently increased to Rs. 60 from Rs. 30,” said Ranasinghe while speaking to The Morning yesterday (15). When questioned regarding the measures taken by the Ministry to contain the unprecedented stress levels among schoolchildren, he stated that while academic activities have resumed, required measures will be taken by the Ministry to manage stress levels among students, which has led to increased levels of drug consumption among school-goers, according to reports. Many schoolchildren are reportedly malnourished, as many do not bring lunch to school, nor are they fed properly at home, due to the ongoing financial crisis and the increase in the prices of essential goods, which has led to a number of students collapsing during morning assemblies, claimed Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) General Secretary Joseph Stalin while addressing the media yesterday. He stated that the Government’s attention regarding this matter was insufficient, which has, in turn, led to the concern of school teachers, principals as well as medical officers involved in child nutrition.  “Following reports by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and us as teachers and principals, who are in close contact with the children, we are aware of what they bring to school to eat, which is almost nothing at times, or is often an unwholesome meal with little nutritional value that is essential for growth. Children are also under massive levels of stress and pressure due to the current economic stress,” he asserted. Furthermore, he stated that the amount of Rs. 60 per child that is currently allocated for the provision of a meal for almost 1,100,000 schoolchildren is inadequate, and that as per Parliamentary suggestions, it should be increased to Rs. 150 per child. Also, he prompted the relevant authorities to increase the quality of this meal that is provided, given that it is imperative to resolve the current levels of malnutrition among schoolchildren. Stalin further stated that with schools being held irregularly for three years, the children are under high academic pressure to complete their respective syllabi in due time, with no school time allocated for extra-curricular recreational activities, which can be considered vital for the mental health and happiness of children. He said that child counselling services in schools should be strengthened and improved and that the attention of the Education Ministry should be directed towards these activities. Commenting on a remark by Minister of Education Dr. Susil Premajayantha regarding how schools should examine children’s belongings to determine if they are in possession of drugs or illegal substances, Stalin said that “rather than checking bags, it would be much better to find the causes for these high levels of stress among schoolchildren and take the needed action to resolve this issue”.  He stated that necessary funds should be allocated and directed towards uplifting the mental health of schoolchildren and that the relevant training should be provided to school teachers accordingly. Stating how the phrase “Nothing but the best for our children” has now changed to “Nothing for our children”, he emphasised that the proper attention of Parliament should be given to these problems rather than towards gaining Ministerial positions and the privileges that come along with those.  He emphasised how the “aragalaya” (struggle) is clearly not over yet, because “the same individuals who stole from the country using their political powers are still seated in Parliament with Ministerial posts or eyeing such posts, with only former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa missing from the picture”. He stated that they will all have to “go home” in order for the “aragalaya” to end.  


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