Premier Su Tseng-chang on Thursday received a Ministry of Education (MOE) briefing on a policy to expand centralized kitchen services for rural schools. The policy is poised to officially launch in September, enabling central kitchens to deliver piping hot lunches right on time, especially for schools in remote areas. The fulfillment of this goal demonstrates the government's commitment toward the next generation and its care for the well-being of Taiwan's people, the premier said. We will utilize policy and build infrastructure to eliminate inequalities and bring about better opportunities for the heirs of our nation's future.
The school lunch policy is of great national importance, the premier continued. Limitations in finance, distance and manpower, however, have created a disparity in the quality of lunches provided to children in major cities compared with those provided to children living in poorer counties and cities, remote villages, or in outlying islands with insufficient resources. It is the government's responsibility to bridge this gap.
The MOE introduced the centralized kitchen policy for rural schools on April 1 last year, with the government investing over NT$6 billion (US$200.7 million) from 2021 to 2023. Through the policy's implementation, 167 central kitchens have been newly built or expanded to supply meals to 699 schools, and a joint food procurement system now serves more than 610 schools, the premier said. He affirmed the MOE for its endeavors and thanked the Council of Agriculture and Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics for their cooperation. Aside from enabling 240,000 children in more than 1,300 rural schools to enjoy the same quality meals as their urban counterparts, the work of these agencies allows meal budgets to be spent primarily on food, ensures stable food quality, and promotes the use of diverse and locally sourced ingredients.
Other tasks have been proceeding as scheduled, the premier continued. The completed central kitchens not only boast cleaner and brighter exteriors, but also comply with standard operating procedures that ensure food is delivered and processed in a more sanitary manner while improving the work flow of kitchen staff. Additionally, nutritionists, food preparation staff and delivery drivers are all outfitted with special uniforms. Other carefully designed aspects of the policy include clear identification of meal delivery trucks, well-planned delivery routes, temperature control and monitoring, as well as the functionality, safety and aesthetic appearance of food containers.