Tag: Education policy

According to the World Food Programme, more than 2 billion people globally experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2021, and the resulting hunger profoundly impacts an individual's ability to learn and thrive. The correlation between insufficient nutrition and diminished cognitive function, particularly in children, is consistently shown across numerous studies. This article explores exactly how does hunger affect learning, from short-term effects on concentration to long-term impacts on brain development and academic achievement.

As of 2024, an estimated 466 million children worldwide benefit from a school meal program, highlighting a significant global commitment to student welfare. While this statistic is impressive, it's essential to look closer at how many countries have free school meals, distinguishing between universal and targeted approaches.

According to a USDA study, the average school meal program operated at a deficit even before widespread universal access, with costs often exceeding federal reimbursements. This fiscal reality is a core component of the broader discussion concerning what is the argument against free school lunches.

Launched in 1995 as the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education, the school nutrition program in India has become one of the world's largest government-run feeding initiatives, now known as PM POSHAN. The program aims to address classroom hunger by providing hot, cooked meals and tackle child malnutrition and low school enrollment, especially among vulnerable communities.