RM289 million allocated for food programme in 2019, says deputy minister

RM289 million allocated for food programme in 2019, says deputy minister

Teo Nie Ching says of the sum, RM39 million would be set aside for supplying milk or other foods.

(Bernama pic)
KUALA LUMPUR:
A total of RM289 million has been allocated for the Supplementary Food Programme (RMT) next year for schoolchildren from extremely poor families.

Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching said RM250 million will be used to provide RM2.50 worth of food to pupils in the peninsula while RM3.00 would be for those in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan for 190 days, which is the minimum number of school days.

She said the remaining RM39 million would be used to supply milk or other foods.

“In 2018, a total of 489,117 students in 7,316 schools throughout the country received the RMT. The ministry is always working to improve education and health among students. In connection to this, various aid is being provided, including the Supplementary Food Programme (RMT),” she said during the question-and-answer session at the Senate session today.

Teo was replying to a question from M Sambanthan who asked how many students had benefited from the RMT.

She said the school heads, and Parents-Teachers’ Associations were responsible for monitoring the school canteens to make sure they provided nutritious food to the schoolchildren, and the contracts of canteen operators who provide unsatisfactory food would be terminated.

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