Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH – A number of parents have complained about the high prices of sandwiches and meals sold by some canteens in boys’ and girls’ schools and about the low-quality of food offered to students. The prices of some meals have doubled, especially in private school canteens, Al-Watan daily reported. Parents have voiced concerns over the way some canteens store food and said the canteens store food in small rooms that are not cold enough and do not apply proper hygiene conditions. They said some meals are not covered well and exposed to air for a long time before they are sold to students. Most of the juices, chocolates and chips are of the lowest-quality in the market and are produced and manufactured by unknown companies. The parents said the canteens care only about making profits.
Al-Watan daily compared the prices of meals in public schools’ canteens and private schools’ canteens and noticed a sharp increase in the prices of the latter. At a private school’s canteen, a sandwich can cost 3-4 riyals while it costs less in public schools.
Many parents sent messages to the Ministry of Education’s twitter account calling upon the ministry inspects and monitors the meals offered by school canteens. The parents suggested that canteens offer fresh vegetables and fruits and fresh juices and sandwiches instead of chips, biscuits, sweets and croissants which do not have any good nutritional value.
Some parents suggested that a food company should be established with contribution from students and teachers while others opined that productive families should be given a chance to run canteens and offer meals at affordable prices.
Riyadh Educational Administration reiterated its keenness to monitor canteens in private and public schools and take necessary measures against violators of food hygiene practices. The administration called upon canteens to provide healthy meals and gluten-free meals for students who have allergies and provide products at reasonable prices similar to the ones in the market.
