During the war, children need special attention, because they are the most vulnerable part of society. Providing hot meals in schools is not just a social initiative, but a vital necessity that guarantees children access to quality food, and therefore health and normal development. In conditions where many families have lost a stable income, state support becomes critical to ensure the basic needs of schoolchildren.
In 2025, all primary school students will continue to receive free hot meals. The state has allocated at least 2.8 billion hryvnias for this, which will be transferred to local communities responsible for financing schools. This decision will provide hot lunches for all children in grades 1-4, regardless of the social status of their families.
As noted head of the «Servant of the People» party Olena Shulyak, high-quality food for schoolchildren is one of the priority areas of state policy. According to her, previously, hot lunches were mainly given to children from privileged categories, and the financing of this program fell on the shoulders of local budgets. However, since October last year, hot meals have become available to all primary school students thanks to funding from the state budget.
In addition, the government is working to expand this initiative to include hot meals for middle and high school students as well. According to Olena Shulyak, the «Servant of the People» party is working hard to ensure that this process takes place as soon as possible.
The introduction of hot meals is part of the large-scale reform of school meals initiated by Olena Zelenska. This reform is based on two key directions:
- providing schools with safe and high-quality food products. The updated menu includes more vegetables, fruits, cereals and other healthy products;
- modernization of canteens and canteens in schools. For this purpose, 1.2 billion hryvnias will be allocated in 2025. With these funds, new kitchen equipment will be purchased — combi ovens, ovens and baking cabinets, electric stoves, freezers, etc.
In addition to supporting schoolchildren, in 2025 increased attention will also be paid to teachers. From the beginning of the year, all teachers will receive an allowance of 1,000 hryvnias every month. From September, this amount will double to 2,000 hryvnias. In general, every full-time teacher will receive an additional 16,000 hryvnias in 2025. 12 billion hryvnias are provided for this in the state budget.
Supplements will apply not only to teachers, but also to psychologists, group leaders and teachers of extended day groups. These payments are part of a comprehensive winter support program aimed at helping those most in need.
Providing children with hot meals in schools and supporting teachers is an investment in the healthy future of the nation. In times of war and economic instability, such initiatives help not only to improve the living conditions of children and educators, but also create a basis for the development of society in the long term.
