PARAMARIBO, Suriname – The Suriname government says it will on Monday relaunch the school feeding programme launched by the Santokhi administration in 2023, and implemented under the supervision of then-First Lady Mellisa Santokhi-Seenacherry.
Former First Lady Mellisa Santokhi-Seenacherry makes a sandwich at the launch of the school feeding programme in 2013 (File Photo)But according to a government statement, after an evaluation period, the programme will now be under a public tender chosen on November 21.
The state-owned Communications Service Suriname (CDS) said that President Jennifer Simons has repeatedly emphasised that every child in Suriname has the right to education and a daily meal.
It said that to guarantee this, SRD 270 million (One SRD=US$0.02 cents) has been reserved for the renewed programme and that more than 15,000 students will receive a sandwich daily, while nearly 2,900 children will receive a hot meal. This will allow the programme to reach a larger part of the country than before.
The programme was temporarily suspended in July of this year after the new government decided on an assessment on how it should be further implemented.
According to the CDS, school feeding makes a significant contribution to improved school performance, higher attendance, and healthier child development with the government emphasises that hunger should never be an obstacle to learning and growth.
