Prime Minister instructed regional akimats to allocate funds to increase the cost of food from the current 500 tenge per child, taking into account the inflation rate

The Government session chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov considered the issues of providing primary school students and children from low-income families with free hot school meals. Minister of Education Gani Beisembayev reported on the current situation.

According to the Ministry of Education, today in Kazakhstan 1.7 million schoolchildren receive free hot meals. Prime Minister stressed that the quality of food provided to children requires serious review. Poor coordination and control on the part of the Ministries of Education and Healthcare, insufficient work of regional akimats on modernisation and equipping of school canteens was noted.

"Today, 403 schools have no canteens, children do not receive a full hot meal in them. It is necessary to put in full order the organisation of safe school meals, especially in small and remote schools. It is necessary to take specific measures to improve the quality of nutrition and increase the responsibility of suppliers," Head of the Government drew attention.

Prime Minister has instructed to adopt a nutrition standard by the end of the year, including a standard prospective menu, including for schools without canteens. The document should be developed with the involvement of experts and scientists. The relevant task has been assigned to the Ministries of Education and Healthcare.

The Ministries of Education and Finance have been instructed to take measures to automate the register of unfair suppliers and establish administrative responsibility of all participants in procurement.

Akimats need to take special control of the issue of improving the material and technical base of school canteens and recalculate the cost of food taking into account the inflation rate, allocate additional funds. Also, to ensure appropriate quality and transparency in the use of budget funds, hardware and software complexes should be installed by the end of the year, and their integration with the "Social Wallet" should be envisaged.

In general, the Ministry of Healthcare has been instructed to strengthen monitoring and sanitary and epidemiological control over the organisation of child nutrition, and to make the necessary regulatory amendments.

#Olzhas Bektenov #Education #Government session #Ministry of Education