By KYIV. Nov 15 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal called on communities to get involved in the process of implementing the reform of the school meal system, for the financing of which UAH 1.5 billion is provided in the 2024 state budget.
“Our goal is to provide varied, balanced and high-quality meal in schools and preschool institutions. I urge all those responsible to get involved in the work, in particular the communities, because the implementation of practical steps will depend on them,” he wrote on Telegram following a meeting with first lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska on Monday.
According to the report, the Strategy for reforming the school meal system for the period until 2027, adopted by the government, was presented at the meeting. It is aimed at achieving four strategic goals, the first of which is finding funding. It is planned that the state will provide communities with a subvention for the modernization of school canteens. For this purpose, the 2024 state budget provides for UAH 1.5 billion.
The allocated subventions will be used to restore food units, taking into account the latest technologies and principles of the food safety management system.
One of the objectives of the school meal reform is to provide communities and schools with personnel who will organize meals, for which they will be provided with a competitive salary and advanced training courses will be organized. The state intends to increase government orders for the training of such specialists. In turn, qualified staff will have to introduce high-quality menus in school canteens and encourage children to make informed choices about healthy food.
