Lunch cost for dormitory students to be raised
The government reviewed the standard cost of food and calories required for students in some educational institutions. Members of the National Council of Vocational Education and Training, donor organizations, researchers and educational institutions believe that it is necessary to increase the standard cost of daily school meals for students.
A student living in a dormitory gets meals three times a day at a cost of 3,000 MNT. The Ministry of Education and Science reports that within the approved state budget for 2023, it is possible to increase it by 1,300 MNT to 4,300 MNT.
During the 2022 to 2023 academic year, 33,312 children aged six to 18 are living in 523 dormitories of secondary schools. Within the 2023 state budget, it is believed that the food cost for senior students in dormitories can be elevated by 825 MNT to 4,300 MNT and the cost of food for middle and elementary school children by 525 MNT to 4,000 MNT.
In connection with the presentation, Minister of Education and Science L.Enkh-Amgalan and Minister of Finance B.Javkhlan have been instructed to study together the possibility of solving the normative costs of student meals in some educational institutions.
In addition, Head of the General Department of Education T.Nyam-Ochir said, “The prime minister included activities aimed at the health of citizens, children and youth in the national policy and cooperation documents. In this regard, a presentation on healthy eating and active lifestyle was made for the education sector. At the beginning of this school year, we organized an advocacy campaign in secondary schools and universities related to nutrition and physical activity and achieved certain results. You may have noticed that we have organized an awareness campaign about the benefits of having breakfast. Healthy eating and exercise should be considered at all stages. In the future, there will be a large-scale discussion among grocery stores, focusing on product expiration dates and labels, and local administrative organizations have been given directions to take comprehensive measures in this area, such as improving the environment for active physical activities.”