The government has “invested considerably” in social support for students turning up in class without food, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo insists.

Times of Malta has reported that teachers are resorting to storing extra food in their desk drawers in case a student turns up with nothing to eat for lunch. Teachers also said that the number of students who were malnourished and lacking personal hygiene was notably on the rise.

When asked whether the government was concerned about such reports, Mr Bartolo said that while any reports of malnourished children were worrying, he urged teachers to come forward as there were funds allocated to counter these situations. 

“When we have come across such cases, it is either the school itself, which uses its own funds to take care of these children, or else it is individual teachers who did this.

“However, as of two years ago, we created a fund and invested €1.5 million to help with the purchase of lunches, uniforms and similar items in schools,” Mr Bartolo said. 

We created a fund and invested €1.5 million to help with the purchase of lunches, uniforms and similar items in schools

He also pointed out that long-term efforts were already in place and statistics showed that Malta’s poverty and social exclusion rates were going down. On those teachers who were forking out money to buy students’ lunches, the minister insisted that this should not happen and urged educators to get in touch with the authorities in order to get the necessary assistance to deal with such cases.

Times of Malta also contacted the Ministry for the Family, Children’s Rights and Social Solidarity for a reaction. While a spokeswoman echoed similar comments about poverty rates going down, the ministry noted that it was contacted about children going to school without any lunch.

The Malta Union of Teachers has claimed that educators have, on more than one occasion, approached social welfare services requesting assistance.

The Foundation for Social Welfare Services, which oversees entities that work on such cases, falls within the remit of the Family, Children’s Rights and Social Solidarity Ministry.

“The ministry also recalls how Malta managed to decrease children at risk of poverty by 6,000, and this after a constant increase in children at risk of poverty under previous administrations.

“Saying this, the government remains committed to act upon any vulnerable situation, especially where children are involved,” the spokeswoman said, giving no details as to how the issue would be addressed.  

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