We have a food crisis silently brewing in our schools

With canteen operators struggling, vending machines and food deliveries are replacing fresh meals. This raises serious concerns about the long-term health of students.

- Teo Yik Ying

As businesses and services in Singapore adapt to post-pandemic norms, one overlooked sector continues to struggle - school canteens.

What was once a haven for students to find affordable, tasty and healthy meals to fuel their learning, school canteens these days grapple with the uncertainty of finding reliable and long-term operators to manage food stalls.

This unsettling trend has already prompted a shift towards vending machines or food delivery services as quick fixes to feed hungry student populations. It raises a pressing question: Will there be unintended and far-reaching consequences for the health and well-being of our students in terms of dietary behaviours and habits?

After all, school meals have always been about more than simply satisfying hunger.

Around the world, school meal programmes are vital for both educational and public health outcomes. In countries like Brazil, the US and Japan, national school meal programmes have long been used as tools to improve child nutrition, tackle malnutrition, and even address issues like stunting and obesity.

These meals are not just crucial for poor or underprivileged children, but instead benefit all students by providing a reliable source of healthy, balanced nutrition. Studies have repeatedly shown that students who eat nutritious school meals have better concentration, higher attendance, and even improved academic performance.

This is why I view the situation in Singapore's schools as deeply troubling. But why has this problem suddenly become so prevalent in recent times?

ROOT CAUSES OF THE PROBLEM

To be fair, the problem of finding sufficient numbers of canteen stall operators has always existed even before Covid-19.

The root of the issue lies in the unsustainable financial model faced by canteen stallholders.