What subsidies will needy families receive to keep meals affordable?

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Needy families will receive generous subsidies to ensure affordable meals for students.

Needy families will be provided with "generous subsidies" through the Ministry of Education (MOE) or school-based support systems to ensure that school canteen meals remain affordable for students. This measure is part of revised school canteen pricing guidelines aimed at balancing affordability for students with the sustainability of stallholders' businesses amidst rising operational costs. The MOE's objective is to maintain accessible food prices while allowing stallholders to cover their expenses and earn a reasonable income.
Subsidies to Offset Rising Costs

The MOE has stated that "generous subsidies" will be made available to students from needy families. These subsidies are intended to directly counter the impact of potential price increases in canteen food, ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent students from accessing adequate meals. This support mechanism is crucial in maintaining the affordability of school meals, especially for vulnerable student populations.
Revised Pricing Guidelines

The Ministry of Education recently updated its school canteen pricing guidelines, which were last revised in 2018. These guidelines are designed to assist schools in their regular reviews of canteen food prices. They aim to keep food affordable for students while enabling stallholders to sustain their businesses by providing them with adequate income. Schools are encouraged to adjust prices to reflect the underlying costs of food items, but with careful consideration for student affordability.
Stallholder Concerns and Price Adjustments

Several canteen stallholders have reported significant increases in the cost of ingredients. For example, the price of a kilogram of frozen chicken has risen from S$4 to S$4.40, and a 2kg pack of mozzarella cheese now costs S$24, up from S$18. The cost of cooking oil has also doubled. While some stallholders have received permission for small price increases, such as a 10-cent increment for certain dishes, these adjustments are often insufficient to cover the escalating expenses. Some are planning to request further increases of 20 to 50 cents per item to maintain profitability.

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What subsidies will needy families receive to keep meals affordable?

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