The Labour Party has started a petition to prevent the Government from ending the free school lunch programme. Over 16,000 people have already signed the petition. Jan Tinetti, a former principal and current Labour Education spokesperson, insists that the Government should continue to fund free and healthy school lunches.
Teachers, parents, and school communities are strongly supportive of the free and healthy school lunch programme. Within 24 hours of launching the petition, 16,405 people had signed it. Tinetti argues that the programme, which feeds children, aids their learning, and saves families money, should continue to receive funding, especially during a financial crisis.
Teachers have noticed increased focus in the classroom and parents are saving an average of $33 per week per child, or up to $1,250 per year per child. Tinetti is urging Christopher Luxon and David Seymour to commit to maintaining the programme, providing certainty for schools, parents, and providers.
The free and healthy school lunch programme currently feeds over 200,000 children in nearly 1,000 schools and employs hundreds of people in local communities. Tinetti argues that if the Government is serious about ensuring children have enough to eat, they will not end this programme.
