School meals to increase by almost 20%

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Concerns have been raised by pupils and teachers regarding the nearly 20% increase in the cost of school dinners, with fears that it will place a significant burden on families. The Education Authority (EA) has announced plans to raise the price of school dinners for primary and special school students by 50p, from £2.50 to £3.00. Additionally, post-primary students will face a 19% price hike on food purchased from school canteens, with pre-school prices also seeing an increase.

Tracy Rossborough, a senior teacher at Ashfield Girls’ High School in Belfast, expressed worries about families being unable to afford the heightened cost. She highlighted that some families have multiple children in school, making the weekly and monthly expenses substantial. For some students, the school dinner may be their main meal of the day, which adds to the concern regarding the price increase impacting nutrition and overall well-being.

Pupils receiving free school meals are exempt from the price increases, which are set to take effect in January 2026. However, concerns remain about the financial strain the hikes may place on families, particularly those already struggling with the increasing cost of living. The availability of healthy meal options in the canteen is emphasized as essential for students, and any obstacles to access are met with apprehension.

In addition to the rise in school meal prices, the EA is implementing various saving measures, including potential increases in fees for music tuition provided by the EA Music Service. The rising expenses in school transport have also raised concerns, with the EA aiming to reduce costs through measures such as ending agency contracts and decreasing overtime payments. The EA board is looking to make approximately £30m in savings through the current measures, but the scale of potential impacts has prevented support for certain undisclosed savings measures

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More

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