PENAMPANG: The Sabah Education and Innovation Ministry will look into the issue of food pricing especially in primary school canteens, following grouses that food items sold to children were costly.
Its assistant minister Jenifer Lasimbang said the school management needs to monitor the situation and report any unreasonable price increase to the district education office, state education department or the Ministry of Education (MOE).
"I have taken note of the issue and we at the State Education and Innovation Ministry will look into it (food pricing issue). I think that's one of the reasons why the MOE is initiating a free breakfast plan.
"For me, we want to look at schools where equality and equity are taken care of. So, what is being eaten is being shared, and even the teachers will be eating with the students," she said when met at the road safety campaign in conjunction with the Christmas celebration and back to school here today.
Lasimbang said this when asked on concerns and complaints raised by parents with regards to high food pricing in schools.
Maria John, 45, who has two children studying at primary schools in Kota Kinabalu, opined school canteen operator should be understanding and not charge children high prices.
"Primary school children don't carry a lot of money and they don't know how to make judgements yet whether a food item is worth the price they are paying.
"The school canteen that my children go to charged RM2 each for a piece of chicken and a stick of fishball. Even the price of 'kuih' is pricier than buying at 'tamu'," said the housewife, adding that she usually gives her children RM2 pocket money.
Janet Tan, 33, said her niece's primary school canteen was also overcharging schoolchildren, adding that the food quantity does not justify the price charged.
"A small piece of chicken cost RM1, while a bigger one cost RM2. Sometimes, my niece has to bring her own meal and RM2 extra pocket money," she said.
The MOE's Free Breakfast Programme, to be carried out beginning Jan 2020 under MOE, is expected to benefit 2.7 million primary school pupils in national schools and government-aided schools.
The programme is aimed at providing nutritious and healthy breakfast. A pilot project for the programme had also been conducted in several schools.
Lasimbang also mentioned that the programme would suit the bottom 40 group, who do not have a proper breakfast or could not afford pocket money to buy food.
On the road safety programme, organised by the Road Safety Department, she reminded road users to take extra precautions when on the road especially during the festive season.