Free school meals will extend to dual entry students
(CNS): The Ministry of Education is taking steps to expand the Public School Meals Programme (PSMP) to dual entry Year 12 students. These are students who attended government schools through Year 11 and then chose to attend the University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI) or one of the local private schools for their final year of compulsory education, which is fully funded by goverment. Officials did not say when they expect this final phase of the PSMP to be rolled out.
Free school meals were first provided to students at all government primary schools and the Lighthouse School in August 2021. The programme was expanded to include high school students in March this year, but at the time “the infrastructure was not in place for us to immediately include dual entry students”, according to Education Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly.
Dual entry students attending Year 12 at St Ignatius Catholic School now have access to free meals and ministry officials are in discussions with UCCI and Cayman Prep to extend the programme to those institutions.
As part of this effort, the minister headed a delegation on a tour of the canteen at the local university, which she said would “allow us to assess the existing canteen facility and work with the UCCI, as needed, to create a fit-for-purpose space”.
The programme requires an annual investment of $10 million by government and aims to “ensure that all students enrolled in Cayman Islands Government Schools have access to tasty, nutritious meals”, according to the ministry. This not only helps parents who are struggling financially but also aims to make sure children have adequate nourishment so that they can concentrate in school.
The touring party included Deputy Premier Chris Saunders, MoE Acting Chief Officer Lyneth Monteith, Deputy Chief Officer Joel Francis, Acting Director of the Department of Education Services (DES) Tammy Hopkins, Acting Senior School Improvement Officer Elroy Bryan, UCCI Board Chairman Gilbert Mclean, and Interim President of UCCI Dr J.D. Mosely-Matchett.
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Category: Education, Local News
What they should be looking at is all those tourism management jobs that require a degree in hospitality. Why not offer a conversion course at ucci that allows you to convert your general management degree to a tourism management degree in 12 months do college educated Caymanians can start to take on tourism management roles
I have no problem with supplying nutritious meals to kids but the reality is, at least at my kids school, so much gets wasted, never mind the atrocious use of individual styrofoam containers for meals, condiments, drinks, etc. – a sustainability disaster.
This is not a bargain and this is not a deal.
I think what’s far more important is teach how to eat properly. The 2 people in that picture are very unhealthy.
Free meals for UCCI students now? What next – free meals for civil servants?
A Long time now bobo.
Trough is bigg
It seems like somewhere are offended to have come to Cayman and falsely inflated almost overnight the Cost of Living to where locals can’t afford to live. – to the advantage of the newcomers who are resetting the rules.
Also many seem grudgeful that our children who can’t afford Private Schools are in need, and that the serf and helpers who cook and clean for them are adding to the new underclass.
Again to the glee of the new “elites”
Yeah it’s the evil expats setting the prices at the gas stations, Fosters, Hurleys and Kirks, and CUC.
Wow. Just wow. How does someone conclude that? BTW expats send their kids to private school not because they’re elitist but because they aren’t allowed to send them to Govt schools.
On the campaign trail already???
No weed no vote!
WHEN are we going to support Early Childhood meals? If Lighthouse school has meals, can we extend this to the NCVO not-for-profit preschool.
WHEN are we going to support Early Childhood meals? It is the little ones most at risk….
Why should I buy food for your children when I have had to limit my procreation to one child so I can be confident of meeting my child’s expenses?
Except youre not actually buying it. Youre part of a society, and part of being in a society is looking out for others, especially children.
I am part of Caymanian society. I am happy to pay my part in it. However, in breach of our laws or at the very least inconsistent with the very basis of Caymanian society, I and thousands of other Caymanians are being forced to support Jamaican and Honduran society in the Cayman Islands. We did not sign up to that and we should not be compelled to do so. We continue to import thousands of foreign nationals unable to support themselves and their dependents. That is unlawful, dangerous, expensive and unsustainable.
When are we going to stop having babies we can’t afford?
Never.
Really and truly now this is getting to be a bit much, when the heck do parents take responsibility for feeding their children or is it just to control what is force fed to the island’s children and create a dependency on the goverment.
Free lunch programs are a staple in America, and its often the only meal some children have in a day. Its widely known that hunger deters learning too, and the children are our future.
Are you sure?
I believe they are. We should teach them well and let them lead the way, show them all the beauty they possess inside. Give them a sense of pride.
Stop them believing everything is a hand out & being Caymanian is enough to get them a job (& meanwhile a free lunch)
Do some research on the benefits of free and reduced meals in America. Just because one has help in the fight against childhood hunger, doesnt mean they grow up to be dependent on government.
I think this Whitney Houston reference went over your heads.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
It certainly does influence the child to be a liberal which is taking out of the taxpayer pocketbook and giving to the freeloader pocketbook.
It is so easy to good with other people’s money but why not your own?
FFS, children know nothing of silly party poltics unless adults influence them. Sod off.
Excataly! Some children look forward to those free meals.And hunger does in fact deters learning.
How can I buy this commenter lunch?
Thank you. The wittiest response ever. Brought a much-needed smile.
Just out of interest, how many non Caymanian kids are we buying lunch for every day? Isn’t this inconsistent with our immigration laws, especially if it is going on for years, and costing millions that Caymanians desperately need?
Xenophobic rube
Just facts. Do they frighten you?
It would be a fact if there was some evidence for it. Officially only the public school kids are getting the meals, or qualify for year 12 support, and only Caymanians qualify for public school. So the base case is that its only Caymanians getting the help. Poster may be speaking the truth and the regulations are being broken, but in the absence of any facts to support that you cant help but assume its either just an anti expat assumption on their part, or considering children born to Caymanian/expat couples no Caymanian, both of which are fairly commonly held views but not founded in facts.
In recent years there have been cases where the majority of students in one government school were not Caymanian. Hundreds of expatriates attend government schools.
Illegality without consequences? The destruction of Cayman without even shame?
Learn in a trailer but your lunch is free.
#worldclass
Learn in the most expensive high school money could construct. Your meal is free, but your education will be dependent on how much you and your parents care, and how disruptive some of your fellow students are.
Brilliant comment 7:09pm. Spot on.
We had 2 classrooms in portacabins 55 years ago in England, so whats your point?