The Government will provide free one-time meals for pupils of grades 1-4, UAH 2 billion has been allocated from the state budget

During the war, many Ukrainian families face serious economic difficulties. Due to the loss of a job, relocation or other troubles, parents cannot always afford to fully provide their children with food. This is especially important for elementary school students who need a balanced diet for their physical and mental development. In such conditions, the government’s initiative to provide free meals to all students of grades 1-4 becomes an important step not only in supporting families, but also in caring for the health of the younger generation.

From October 2024, the state will provide primary school students with hot lunches, which will be financed from the state budget. About this reported Ministry of Education and Science.

For this, on the initiative of the President of Ukraine, 2 billion hryvnias have been allocated from the state budget for 2024, which will be transferred to local communities in the form of a subvention. This step will guarantee equal access to quality food for all children, regardless of the social status of the family or place of residence.

Until now, hot lunches were provided only to students of privileged categories, and the financing of this process was covered exclusively by local budgets. This situation created inequality, as not all local communities had sufficient financial resources to provide adequate nutrition for all students. The newly introduced state subsidy will help correct this situation and ensure equal conditions for all primary school students.

How will it work?

The state subsidy allocated for the year 2024 will cover both the costs of purchasing products for cooking and the services of catering or outsourcing companies providing food services. The main conditions for receiving a subvention include:

• Hot meals must be organized for all students of grades 1-4, regardless of social status or place of residence.
• Schools, where face-to-face or mixed education is organized, have the opportunity to independently organize meals or enter into contracts with enterprises that specialize in catering.
• The cost of hot meals for junior high school students should not exceed the cost of lunches for high school students, which will ensure the financial availability of this process.
• All measures related to the organization of food must comply with food safety standards in accordance with Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 305 dated 03/24/2021 and HACCP standards (System of risk analysis and control of critical points).

The importance of the reform of school meals

This initiative is part of a broader reform of school meals initiated by the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska. The main goal of the reform is to provide children in schools with high-quality and balanced nutrition, as well as to promote the formation of healthy eating habits that will have a positive impact on the future generation of Ukrainians.

School lunches in the conditions of war become especially important not only for the physical development of children, but also as an element of the state’s care for each student, regardless of whether he lives in a big city or in a remote community. It also helps provide stability for families affected by war and ensures that all children have access to the quality nutrition they need for their healthy development.

Interesting facts about the initiative

1. Massive support. This is the first time that all students in grades 1-4 across the country will receive free hot lunches, which was previously available only to privileged categories of children.
2. Equal access. Subsidy from the state will ensure the same food conditions for all students, regardless of the financial capabilities of local communities.
3. Duration of action. During the implementation of the initiative, the government plans to monitor the effectiveness of this program so that it becomes a permanent component of school education.
4. Positive impact on health. Experts note that regular hot meals in schools not only improve the physical condition of children, but also contribute to better concentration on studies, which increases the overall level of success.
5. Involvement of enterprises. The introduction of outsourcing companies and catering will create new jobs and increase competition in the school food market, which will positively affect its quality.