BOOST FOR SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME
KINGSTON, Jan. 15 (JIS):
Two contracts valued at over $53 million were approved by Cabinet yesterday (January 14) for the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture’s School Feeding Programme for the January 2002 school term.
Information Minister, Colin Campbell, said a contract valued at $36 million was approved for the purchase of skimmed milk powder for use in the Nutribun component of the programme, which currently catered to beneficiaries in recognised basic, infant, primary, all-age and junior high schools.
The skimmed milk powder will be acquired from Beta-Milk Company in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, he added.
Mr. Campbell was speaking at the weekly-post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House in Kingston.
The Minister pointed out that Cabinet also approved a $17.09 million contract for the purchase of a number of commodities from T. Geddes Grant Limited for use in the Traditional School Feeding Programme.
“All these purchases are being done on the basis of competitive tender,” Mr. Campbell explained.
For the 2001/02 school year, the Ministry of Education is projecting to spend $462 million on its School Feeding Programme. This should benefit about 456,000 students.