Due to scandal over free meals for schoolchildren, unscheduled monitoring visits to be conducted at educational institutions in Bukovyna. PHOTOS
A post appeared on social media complaining about the meals provided to pupils in grades 1–11 at one of Chernivtsi’s educational institutions. The Regional Military Administration ordered the launch of unscheduled monitoring visits to educational institutions across Bukovyna.
This was stated by Ruslan Osypenko, head of the Chernivtsi Regional Military Administration, Censor.NET reports.
A piece of bread and a carrot
Thus, Chernivtsi resident Leonid Prokopchuk published a post with a photo of a school lunch showing a piece of bread, a carrot, and a casserole.
In turn, Ruslan Osypenko, head of the Chernivtsi Regional Military Administration, reported that he had received information about the breakfasts and lunches offered to pupils in grades 1–11 at one of the educational institutions in Chernivtsi.
He stressed that children’s meals were no place for cost-cutting or a perfunctory approach.
"I consider neglecting the quality and safety of children’s meals unacceptable! Therefore, I immediately initiated an internal investigation into this specific incident and ordered the launch of unscheduled monitoring visits to educational institutions in Bukovyna, starting tomorrow," Osypenko wrote.
He added that the inspections would continue until everyone, in their respective positions, understood that the time for irresponsibility was over.
"We will check not only documents but also what children actually receive. Any violations identified will prompt an immediate response from the Chernivtsi Regional Military Administration and law enforcement agencies, and those responsible will be held accountable under the law," the head of the Regional Military Administration stressed.
What the City Council’s Education Department says
The Education Department of Chernivtsi City Council reported that it had contacted the contractor providing meals to children at the institution the previous day.
"Just yesterday, we contacted the contractor that feeds our children at that institution and discussed the situation with the school administration. The appearance and quality of these meals are categorically unacceptable to us, and food must not be served this way. Our children will definitely receive properly presented meals.
"Providing free meals for all children in schools is a very difficult initiative to implement. Yesterday, more than 26,000 children ate at schools, compared with the usual 8,000–10,000 a day last year. The workload on school kitchens and staff is enormous.
"We are going through a process on this scale for the first time, so there are mistakes at the outset. We are open to comments, ready to listen to every mother and father, and prepared to refine the system as we go so that children are comfortable and the food is of high quality," the statement reads.
Oksana Prodan, an adviser to the head of the Association of Ukrainian Cities and a former Ukrainian MP of the seventh and eighth convocations, also commented on the situation with children’s meals.
She published a photo of the school lunch and noted that it showed "state-provided ‘free’ mandatory meals for all pupils at all schools from September 1, in one of the cities."
According to her, the state allocated UAH 50–60 per child for this. For every child, regardless of the family’s means.
"In education, the government is building communism—free lunches are mandatory for everyone, with some communities banning pupils from bringing their own food or running home during a break to eat," she added.
