The Regional Secretary for Education and Culture stated today that the Government's obligation in the area of school feeding is "supervise" the compliance of the contracts signed between schools and private companies that supply these services.

"This supervision must be carried out by the Government and schools which, through their boards, are the Government's armed wing on the ground," stressed Avelino Meneses, who spoke at the Legislative Assembly during the debate on the nutritional quality of school meals.

In the context of the visits made to the school establishments of the Regional Education System, Avelino Meneses suggested that "every day at least one member of the school board should have launch at the canteen." The government oficial considered that "the presence of school board members is useful and that their absence may eventually lead to deviations."

The Secretary for Education restated that, currently, school canteens "are still the best example of adequate nutrition" insofar as they provide "comprehensive, balanced, varied and safe" meals, which is "a means for preventing diseases and promoting health."

"Outside schools, the violation of the most basic rules of nutritional education unfortunately spoils much of the teachings we try to inculcate in the minds of students on a daily basis," added the Regional Secretary.

In addition to the manual that is annually updated the Regional Directorate for Education with "basic and practical guidelines" on the school meals service, Avelino Meneses added that schools will receive another manual on food hygiene and safety this year.

Taking into consideration the work carried out on the islands of S. Miguel and Terceira, Avelino Meneses considered that the implementation of new nutritional quality criteria in school canteens "will not bring considerable advantages," simply because "these criteria already exist."

As for the proposed implementation of a programme to encourage the consumption of Azores fish in the canteens of the Regional Education System, the Regional Secretary for Culture and Education already foresees a series of difficulties, which the Government has sought to overcome. "In addition to the benefits for the health of the school community, the increase in the consumption of fish caught in our sea would bring benefits to the economy of our islands."

However, Avelino Meneses stressed that "there are many setbacks that hinder" the increased availability of fish in school canteens.

 The Regional Secretary for Education and Culture also informed the members of the Regional Assembly that the average cost of school meals to the public treasury, which excludes water and electricity costs and the tear of equipment, is at 1.9 Euros.