A decrease in the number of children taking school meals and accompanying wastage by students because of their eating preferences are of concern to both Government and management of the school meals programme.
These issues featured prominently during a discussion following a 50th anniversary lecture at the Schools Meals Department given by Senator Harry Husbands, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation.
The senator expressed concern about the declining number of children who took the meals and said many parents seemed not to be aware of the care taken by the School Meals Department to provide a balanced, nutritious meal every single schoolday for their children.
“If they were fully aware, many more would be encouraging their children to participate in the School Meals Programme.
“What I am concerned about is the actual rate of participation . . . I have the perception that the number of children participating is on the decline. I think it is the role of the school administration to ensure children participate. But there is considerable work to be done in that area.”
He said that on visiting some schools, he was horrified to see “children running all over the place, throwing down the cutlery”.
Responding to a question as to the amount of bread that goes to waste, Dr Marcilia Nelson, manager of the School Meals Department, said the children did not like a lot of bread at lunchtime and said the bread servings were reduced.
She said, however, the department would be undertaking another formal survey to help formulate the menus.
