The government restores the "After School" initiative, the salty food bill reaches 203 million euros per year

If the "After School" program, which aims to extend the stay of students in public schools and provide meals, is implemented for the entire 9-year system in Albania (from first to 9th grade), according to the calculations of the Ministry of Education, a financial cost of 19.4 billion lek per year or about 203 million euros per year would be required.

If the program is fully implemented, the Ministry of Education estimates that it will provide food for 222,000 students at a daily cost of 500 lek, for 175 days per year (school days for food).

But on the other hand, the Ministry of Education calculates several lower cost scenarios, if food would be provided for 10, 20% of students, which is considered the base scenario, or for 30 to 50% of students attending public education in the country.

The financial cost of providing food for all students in public schools of 9-year education, as well as several other scenarios for calculating the costs of providing food for 10 to 50% of students, have been made public in the draft decision "On some additions and amendments to decision no. 666, dated 10.10.2019, of the Council of Ministers "On financial quotas for food in canteens and dormitories and determining the criteria for obtaining scholarships and payments for students of pre-university education in public educational institutions", as amended.

But in the draft decision drafted by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, it is proposed that this right be defined as the right of local self-government units, if they have the financial means, to provide food services in basic education institutions that are in the territory they cover.

"In this context, it is proposed that the service be provided by local self-government units with the approval of the ministry responsible for education, coordination between local and central government is guaranteed, and the provision of this service is implemented in a regular, controlled manner and in accordance with food safety standards," the draft decision states.

The cost of food in primary education is estimated at 110 million euros.

But for this service to be provided nationwide, the Ministry of Education calculates that the cost of providing food for 121.5 thousand students attending public primary education would require an annual budget of 10.6 billion lek per year or 110 million euros.

The ministries estimate that the daily cost of food for a student will be 500 lek/day and food will be provided for 175 school days.

But the ministries calculate the cost of providing food using several cost scenarios.

If food is to be provided to 10% of students or 12,154 mothers, the cost is estimated at around 1 billion lek or around 11 million euros.

The scenario for 20% of students, which is also considered the base scenario (24,309 × 500 × 175 = 2,127,037,500 lekë.

The scenario for 30% of students calculates a cost of about 3.1 billion lek and for 50% of students the cost is calculated at 5.3 billion lek.

The cost of food for 9-year education is estimated at 92 million euros

In total, the financial cost of providing the "After School" program for 100,657 9-year public education students is estimated at 8.8 billion lek per year or about 92 million euros per year.

The Ministry of Education also calculates several cost scenarios for this school system.

If food is to be provided to 10% of students, a cost of 880.7 million lek is calculated.

For 20% of students, which is also estimated for grades 6 to 9, the cost is estimated at 1.7 billion lek per year.

And for 50% of students, the cost is estimated at around 4.4 billion lek per year.

What does the "After School" program aim to do?

The “After School” program aims to provide additional support to students through educational, cultural and sports activities after school hours. This model increases the time students spend in school and requires supportive measures that guarantee their well-being and concentration throughout the day. In this context, the provision of school meals is considered a key element for the effective functioning of this program./ Monitor