Petrina Francis, Education Reporter
FINZI-SMITH
MORE THAN 500 schools across the island are benefiting from the Food For the Poor school-feeding programme.
The programme assists students with breakfast, lunch, furniture and books.
Bradley Finzi-Smith, executive director of Food For the Poor told The Gleaner that his organisation embarked on the programme although his organisation was helping the Ministry of Education with its school-feeding programme by providing milk powder and other necessities as a number of schools, especially as basic schools, were still not involved because of transportation problems.
Mr. Finzi-Smith said that a number of students were absent from school because of an inability to find money to buy lunch.
He said he hopes to expand the programme to more schools. Mr. Smith said that his organisation has been getting positive feedback from the schools, noting that more students have been attending school regularly and have been performing better in class.
The programme, which was launched late last year, was timely, especially after the Ministry of Education rationalised the school-feeding programme.
Under the ministry's school-feeding programme, schools, which usually receive nutri buns and milk as well as a grant from the ministry to provide cooked meals for their students, were restricted to only one of the assistance programmes.
Calder Neita, office manager of the South West St. Ann constituency, said the programme has been going well. Mr. Neita noted that 22 basic schools, one infant and 19 primary and all-age schools are currently on the programme.
Gladstone Reid, principal of Independence City Primary School, told The Gleaner that his school has been benefiting from the programme.
"It has been adequate. Students are responding well," he said. He noted that 30 students are on the programme.
Meanwhile, Aneita Lee, coordinator of the school-feeding programme in Portmore said it has proven to be highly successful and is appreciated by teachers, parents and students.
One hundred and fifty eight basic schools and and day care centres throughout Portmore are on the programme.
