Hanoi spends over 3,000 billion VND to support boarding meals: Sharing the 'burden' of study costs

TPO - The amount of money to support boarding meals for each student is not large, even parents still have to contribute more, but it has shown the city's concern for the future generation. At the same time, it shares the burden of education and childcare costs with the family.

The Hanoi People's Committee is seeking opinions on drafting a Resolution regulating the mechanism for supporting meals for primary school students in Hanoi for the 2025-2026 school year.

According to the proposal, in the 2025-2026 school year, all primary school students in the city will be supported with boarding meals at a rate of VND20,000-30,000/day. The total estimated support budget is about VND3,063 billion.

After the above content was reported, most opinions agreed with the proposal of the Hanoi People's Committee. Mr. Vuong Dac Lap, Chairman of the People's Committee of Thach Than Commune (Quoc Oai District) said that there are about 400 primary school students in the commune. Before support, the cost of boarding meals alone, from 500,000 VND - 600,000 VND/student per month, was a problem, especially for families with difficult and extremely difficult circumstances (accounting for 10% of students). "If the city supports, families will have less burden and more money to take care of their children's education," Mr. Lap shared.

According to the proposal, Hanoi will spend more than 3,000 billion VND to support 100% of primary school students with boarding meals in the 2025-2026 school year (Illustration photo).

Sharing the same opinion, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Dong, Vice Chairman of Lang Thuong Ward People's Committee (Dong Da District) said that in the ward there are 2 primary schools with about 2,500 students.

According to Mr. Dong, the city's support for boarding meals is a very practical proposal. Although the amount of money for boarding meals for each student is not large, and parents still have to contribute more, it shows the city's concern for the future generation. At the same time, it shares the burden of education and childcare costs with families.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Huu (residing in Di Trach commune, Hoai Duc district) said that her two children are currently in elementary school. To support her children, she works as a scrap collector. With the city's support for boarding meals, she will save nearly 1 million VND per month, a considerable amount for her family.

Ms. Le Thi Thoa (residing in Thanh Xuan district) said that her child is studying at a private primary school in the area. According to calculations, each meal for the child is about 50,000 VND, an average of 1 million VND/month. Thus, with the city supporting 20,000 VND/day, from the school year to each month, the family will save 400,000 VND. "I strongly support the proposal of Hanoi city. I hope that the city will not only support boarding meals in the 2025-2026 school year but also need to do it in the following years, at the same time expanding the range of students receiving support," Ms. Thoa said.

Will support other levels of education

It is known that the whole city of Hanoi currently has 778 primary schools with 763,028 students, of which 703 are boarding schools. The collection level ranges from 19,000 VND/student/day to 50,000 VND/student/day depending on each school.

Regarding this issue, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training said that primary schools currently have two sessions per day, so all schools organize boarding meals for students. In addition, children are at an age of strong physical and mental development, requiring adequate energy and nutrition, so organizing boarding meals for 100% of students is necessary.

In addition, students can have lunch at school, parents will not have to bother picking up and dropping off their children in the middle of the day, saving time and effort, thereby focusing on work.

The Hanoi People's Committee said that after 1 year of implementing the program to support boarding meals for primary school students, the city will summarize and evaluate the results. Based on the actual situation and the ability to balance the budget, the city will consider supporting the remaining levels of education.

Hanoi People's Committee said that at the meeting with voters before the 9th Session of the 15th National Assembly at Constituency No. 1 of Hanoi on April 17, 2025, General Secretary To Lam suggested that Hanoi should continue to pay attention to theeducation cause and school policies; ensure the quality of teaching and learning, create the best and most comprehensive learning conditions for children in the capital. The General Secretary suggested that the city consider supporting school lunches for students.

Thanh Hieu

Source: https://tienphong.vn/ha-noi-chi-hon-3000-ty-dong-ho-tro-an-ban-tru-san-se-ganh-nang-chi-phi-hoc-tap-post1748870.tpo