On Tuesday, National Education Minister Mahmut Özer announced that the Ministry of National Education has completed preparations to implement a free meals program for 5 million students in Turkey as of February 6th, the start of the second semester of the 2022-2023 academic year.
Özer highlighted the ministry's commitment to increasing equal opportunities in education through social policies that support students. He said that the free meal program, which has been in place in boarding schools since the 1980s, will now be expanded to include preschool, primary, and secondary school students in regional boarding institutions, with a focus on preschools.
The minister also mentioned that the "Meal/Nutrition and Distribution Guide," which outlines the procedures and principles of the free meal program, has been circulated to all 81 provinces for implementation. As of February 6th, up to 1.45 million children in preschools will receive one meal a day, five days a week.
The ministry has allocated the necessary budget for the preschools and kindergartens to prepare meals in their kitchens, and the process will be in accordance with the programs of the Ministry of Health. The schools will have the support of dietitians from public health centers, and special attention will be paid to cleanliness and hygiene during the implementation.
The Ministry of National Education has requested all necessary measures be taken by the governorships to ensure a healthy and smooth implementation of the free meal program.
