By Stabroek News

Copyright stabroeknews

Dear Editor,

Please allow me a space in your newspaper to highlight several issues with the National School Feeding Programme under the Ministry of Education. There is an urgent need for standardisation and oversight in this programme. It is unacceptable that a multimillion-dollar taxpayer-funded initiative is being executed without a standardized menu, defined portion sizes, and clear inspection mechanisms across all schools.

Presently, schools along the East Coast are experiencing wide disparities in the meals provided. In some schools, children receive a proper portion of protein and carbohydrates—such as roti/puri and chicken curry—while in others, children are given nothing more than a half of a jam cake, dry cereal in a bowl, or even unhealthy hotdogs that students themselves reject. Shockingly, some schools rarely ever receive protein except during the Grade 6 National Exams. This is not value for money and reflects gross mismanagement of public funds. If one should look at the invoice submitted by a particular supplier, you will not be surprised that the half-jam cake will be the full cost per jam cake that they cut into two pieces and send to the school.

Even more troubling, reports exist of suppliers providing fruits that were found to be rotten and worm-infested—posing direct health risks to students. Parents and students have been left dissatisfied, and illnesses are not uncommon after consuming such poorly handled meals. Given these issues, I strongly urge the Ministry of Education to take immediate corrective action by:

1. Establishing a Standardized Weekly Menu – For example, Monday: cereal and milk; Tuesday: roti and curry; Wednesday: pastry and fruit; Thursday: rice and protein; Friday: sandwich and fruit juice. This should be uniform across all schools to guarantee fairness and nutritional value.

2. Defining Portion Sizes – Measured portions of protein, carbohydrate, fruit, and beverage should be set. Schools can be equipped with simple scales, and assigned monitors (such as 10-day workers) should verify and upload reports into a centralized system.

3. Strengthening Inspection and Certification – The Ministry must deploy food inspectors to ensure that all suppliers possess valid food handler’s certificates, maintain sanitary kitchens, and use safe water. Local health centers can assist with on-site checks.

4. Improving Procurement and Accountability – Contracts should be openly published, suppliers rotated regularly, and quotas enforced so that no supplier is overwhelmed. The practice of suppliers scrambling each morning to prepare hundreds of meals must end.

5. Ending Nepotism and Enforcing Accountability – This programme must not be treated as a “friends and family” business. Transparency, proper procurement procedures, and parliamentary oversight must guide all operations.

Editor, this programme is a commendable initiative and has the potential to improve nutrition, learning, and attendance. However, in its current state it lacks structure, oversight, and fairness. Without urgent reform, children will continue to suffer, taxpayers’ money will be wasted, and confidence in the Ministry will erode. I therefore call on the office of the Minister of Education to immediately institute these changes and hold those responsible accountable. Proper management, transparency, and standardized practices must guide the school feeding programme going forward.

Shania Harpaul