School breakfast programme temporarily halted due to Covid-19 concerns
However, the education minister said that students safety "more important"
(File photo) The school breakfast programme was launched in 2019
While schools are to reopen for classes on Thursday, the education ministry has decided against continuing with its school breakfast programme for the time being.
Education Minister Dr. Aishath Ali at a press conference on Sunday, said that the decision to not resume the programme launched in 2019 was due to Covid-19 concerns.
She said that while the breakfast programme is one of the key pledges of the incumbent administration, that the safety of the students "is more important".
The minister added that health experts were consulted in reaching the decision, adding that they were advised against continuing with the programme as giving the students food prepared from outside right now is still risky.
However, Dr. Aishath stressed that the school breakfast programme has not been halted completely, saying that it will resume as soon as the country escapes the dangers of coronavirus.
Despite the decision to halt this programme, the minister emphasized that they will be providing breakfast to students who need it. She highlighted that such students are being identified, revealing that they will not only be given breakfast, but other meals as well.
She added that this is something the ministry has always practiced.
The school breakfast programme was launched in all public schools in the Maldives in June 2019, with assistance from the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
