The Center Party faction of the Riigikogu submitted a draft law, which raises the minimum amount of school lunch support per student from 1 euro to 2 euros per day.
“A young person’s body needs high-quality, diverse and nutritious food. The hot lunch offered at school is a very important meal for students. In the conditions of high inflation and tax increases planned by the Reform Party government, it is not possible to maintain the current quality of school food for the same amount. In order for school lunches to continue to be free, healthy and tasty for students, the minimum amount of support must be increased,” said a member of the Riigikogu Vadim Belobrovtsev.
According to the current system, the state spends 1 euro per day for one child’s school lunch, to which is added the contribution of the municipality and, in some cases, the parents. The last increase in the state subsidy for school meals took place in 2018 during the Jüri Ratas government, when the subsidy was increased from 0.78 to 1 euro. Vadim Belobrovtsev added that the current situation has forced municipalities to increase their financial contribution and ask parents for additional support – for example, the city of Tartu uses this opportunity.
“Municipal governments have increased the support for school lunches more often than the state, but placing the responsibility of maintaining the quality of school meals on cities and municipalities is irresponsible,” criticizes Vadim Belobrovtsev, a member of the board of the Central Party. “We also come to the aid of companies that provide meals in schools, which are finding it increasingly difficult to fulfill the contracts concluded through public procurement, which oblige them to provide students with wholesome, balanced, versatile, tasty, age-appropriate food that, if necessary, takes into account special needs and allergies.”
According to the Estonian Economic Institute, the cost of an average basket of food has risen by 25 percent year-on-year, and according to Vadim Belobrovtsev, the current contribution is no longer enough to prepare a nutritious meal, let alone the quality or healthiness of the meal.
“Thus, the 1-euro increase in the school lunch support per student in one day is enough to maintain the current quality of food offered in schools. A full-fledged school lunch must be guaranteed for all students, regardless of the school they attend. It’s worth remembering that for many young people, school lunch is the only nutritious and warm meal a day,” confirms the former deputy mayor of Tallinn.
The law will enter into force on January 1, 2024, if adopted.
