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Starting in October 2024, the Ukrainian government will introduce free hot meals for students in grades 1-4. This is made possible by allocating UAH 2 billion from the state budget, which will be transferred to local communities as a subvention. This initiative was announced by the Ministry of Science and Education.
Previously, free lunches were only available to pupils in privileged categories, funded by local budgets. Now, thanks to the new changes, all primary school students will have the opportunity to receive hot lunches every day, which will undoubtedly have a positive impact on their physical health and healthy eating habits.
Educational institutions will be free to organise catering: they can provide it themselves through outsourcing or cooperate with catering companies. However, it is worth noting that the cost of meals for primary school students should not exceed the cost of lunches for students in grades 5-11 (12).
This step will undoubtedly be an important step in ensuring quality education and health of Ukrainian children, as proper nutrition is the key to their successful learning and development.
