Food in Schools

Stuff reports:

Poor participation in food programmes at low-decile schools is an issue that needs sorting before the Government launches Food in Schools, says Prime Minister John Key.

The programme, which was left out of last week’s Budget, would serve breakfast and lunch to needy children.

It was expected to involve extensive partnership with companies and community groups already involved in providing food to hungry students.

But the Government was still working through some issues with current free-food schemes, Key told TVNZ’s Breakfast show this morning.

“For the lowest decile schools in the country, Fonterra and Sanitarium currently run a programme – they offer it to every school that wants it – 566 take it,” he said.

“Only 15 per cent of the children who actually go to those schools, even though all of them are offered it, actually take it. So that gives you a sense of the scale of the issue.”

So there is already a programme offering food to every low decile school in NZ. And 15% of pupils at those schools take it up.

So what is the point of a law requiring the Govt to fund a programme at every school in NZ?

Labour leader David Shearer said providing breakfast to children was ultimately a parent’s responsibility and any programme must be targeted.

I agree with David Shearer. I presume this means Labour will vote against Hone Harawira’s bill.