Nova Scotia’s new school lunch program will begin serving elementary students in October, as announced by Education Minister Becky Druhan. The pay-what-you-can initiative is set to benefit over 75,000 students across 250 schools in its first phase. Families can choose to pay the full cost of $6.50 per meal, part of the cost, or nothing at all, depending on what they can afford.
“Families will decide what is affordable every time they order a school lunch,” Druhan explained. She emphasized that the program is confidential and stigma-free, ensuring that no one knows how much each family contributes. The funding model, which Druhan described as “responsible,” is based on feedback from over 10,000 participants in online consultations, many of whom expressed a willingness to contribute.
Drawing from the experience of other provinces with similar programs, such as Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island, officials anticipate that a significant number of families will pay something towards the cost of the meals. The Nova Scotia government has allocated $18.8 million for the program’s first year, included in the 2024-25 budget.
The lunch program will be introduced across the province in stages on October 1, 15, and 28. Parents can start placing orders two weeks prior to the first lunches through the website nslunch.ca, with a choice of two lunch options each day, including at least one vegetarian meal. The menu features 40 nutritious options developed with input from dietitians, pediatricians, and students, reflecting the diversity of the student body with offerings such as Acadian chicken fricot, butter chicken, and corn chowder with l’uskinikn, a traditional Mi’kmaq biscuit.
Meals will be prepared using existing school kitchens, on-site contracted catering, and off-site preparation for schools lacking kitchen or cafeteria facilities. The minister highlighted the program’s role in making life more affordable for families and supporting students’ health and focus on learning.
Opposition parties have welcomed the program, with Liberal education critic Derek Mombourquette acknowledging the need for a free option and NDP member Suzy Hansen reiterating her party’s long-standing push for a universal program. The federal government has allocated $1 billion over five years for a national school lunch program and is in discussions with provinces to negotiate funding deals.
While the specifics of federal support for Nova Scotia’s program remain uncertain, Druhan affirmed that the province is prepared to fully fund and deliver the program on its own
Read More: https://theeducationview.com/
