Maldives have launched a breakfast programme for all government-owned schools in Maldives.
The nationwide breakfast programme was launched by Vice President Faisal Naseem at a ceremony held in Thaajuddeen School. The breakfast programme is a key policy initiative of the administration pertinent to the education sector.
By ensuring all students have access to a healthy meal in the morning, Vice President Naseem noted the programme will prove a benefit to student's health and well-being. He added early morning breakfast will assist students to pay attention and retain information during lessons which will prove conducive to overall development and future success.
Moreover, speaking at the launching event, Minister of Education Dr. Aishath Ali expressed the success of the pilot programme launched in the first term. In this regard, she noted compared to previous times, the concentration level of students have increased and the amount of students fainting during assemblies have decreased significantly.
Meanwhile, the education ministry has revealed plans to introduce more menus in the future. The ministry revealed the crucial role played by breakfast in children's development as the reason the administration has placed such a high priority in implementing the programme.
The ministry aims to alleviate some of the difficulties confronted by parents and guardians, who either due to financial or time constraints, struggle to provide early morning meals to children for whom they are responsible, prior to the start of the school session. With the successful inauguration of the programme, a total of 57,817 students across 180 islands will be provided with a healthy and nutritious breakfast.
The administration has allocated about USD 8 million from the state budget to conduct the breakfast programme in 213 schools.