From the beginning of 2020, it is planned to start providing free lunches to pre-schoolers in general education schools selected by the municipalities, and from September next year. free lunch is intended to be offered to all Lithuanian preschoolers and first graders.
The draft amendment to the law on social support for students envisages that in the first stage from January to August. lunch for preschoolers would be served buffet style. As mentioned by the Minister of Social Security and Labor Linas Kukuraitis, 49 municipalities and 251 schools (about 4,5 thousand students) have already expressed their decision to participate in this stage.
If Seimas would support the proposal from 2020 to feed pre-schoolers and first-graders for free, 49,6 thousand would additionally receive free lunch. students. In this way, a healthier diet would be ensured for a larger number of children, social exclusion and differentiation of the youngest students would be reduced, and more favorable conditions would be created for parents to combine work with family obligations.
Currently, free meals are provided only to children from poor families, if the family's income per person does not exceed 183 euros per month, excluding the child's money and part of the salary. Next year, the income threshold on which free meals will depend will rise to 187,5 euros.
According to preliminary calculations, in 2020, free lunches for preschoolers and first-graders will require about 8,6 million. EUR, then approximately 17,4 million will be needed annually. euros.
The provision of universal free meals in stages would allow all municipalities to properly prepare for the legalization of free meals for all primary school children in the future.
After consideration of these amendments to the Law on Social Support for Students (project no. XIIIP-4023(2) The Seimas agreed by consensus. In order for the new provisions to be adopted, the Seimas will have to vote again.
