Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand today launched the National Breakfast Programme which will provide a daily meal to Grade Six pupils in the coastal regions, two, three, four, five, six and ten.
The programme was launched at the MacKenzie Primary School in Region 10 as part of the Ministry’s activities to observe Education Month 2022.
Manickchand said that the programme wasn’t birthed because the Ministry believes that parents cannot provide breakfast for their children. According to a release from her ministry, she said, “We believe many can. But we also know a lot of children come to school without breakfast.”
The Education Minister said that it is the state’s duty to help children as far as finances allow. She noted that research around the world has proven that children who benefit from healthy nutrition learn better and perform better in school. Additionally, she said that the School Feeding Programme has shown increased attendance and enrolment at schools.
She said that this year $267M is being expended on the Breakfast Programme for every Grade Six child on the coast. She said that the children in the hinterland regions are already benefiting from a separate feeding programme.
Manickchand said that the Regional Administration in each region was asked to advise on who would be the best persons within the area to prepare the meals.
She said that those persons are being hired to cook and that the Ministry is paying for each meal. Further, she said that if those persons contracted to supply the meals cannot deliver what is required, there will be no delay in replacing them.
She said that the Ministry intends to maintain a high standard on the programme. “So I hope you understand what we intend; for children of Region 10, the children of Guyana will be given a nutritious and filling breakfast at the Grade Six level, every morning”, she said, according to the release.
