The government’s breakfast programme has been launched in all schools.

Vice President Faisal Naseem joined the launching ceremony on Tuesday at Thaajuddeen School.

Speaking at the ceremony, Education Minister Dr Aishath Ali declared there will not be any hungry students in the new term.

The Minister said that the breakfast programme will be beneficial to the students’ education, discipline, and growth.

She said that the pilot breakfast programme at 25 schools in the previous term showed an increase in students’ focus on their studies and an improvement in punctuality. She also said that there was a decrease of fainting during assembly and less visits to the health room.

Social harmony between students had also gotten better, she said, adding that students and parents also gained knowledge on a healthy diet.

She said that 57,000 students in 180 islands joined the breakfast programme on Tuesday morning and that the beneficiaries are not only the students and parents but also the businesses and farms in the islands.

MVR 50 million of the state budget was allocated for the breakfast programme. The Ministry prepared 10 menus with help from UNICEF, which include sandwiches, omelets, flat bread, and milk.