Development of conditions for the implementation of Vladimir Putin's initiative to provide hot meals for all primary school students started in Kazan.
This year in Kazan, a record number of first – graders will begin to learn - approximately 20.5 thousand children. The shortage of seats in school canteens is planned to take up by reconstruction of school canteens and building extensions at nine schools in the city, as well as introduction a flexible schedule of lunch periods. This was said by the Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin at Business Monday.
Today, 75% of students in 1-4 grades eat at Kazan schools – this is almost 50 thousand children, said Rima Mukhamedshina, Director of the department of food and social nutrition of Kazan. “This year, there are 136 thousand students, and by 2028, according to the forecast, there will be about 192 thousand students. Therefore, the shortage of seats in school canteens is a key issue”, - R.Mukhamedshina said.
“The President's address sets the task clearly – to provide free meals to all primary school children. But the solution to this issue is not about money, but also about the capacity of school canteens. This year we are waiting for more than 20.5 thousand new students – this is the highest number of first – graders in Kazan ever, - I.Metshin said. – In some schools, the load on canteens is five times higher than possible. Even when there is a desire to eat, there are funds, we cannot put all the children in one canteen. Therefore, we made a request to our President, Rustam Minnikhanov, to construct building extensions at nine schools to provide meals. He supported us, and we need to start this work in summer”.