ANY change to the prices of food and beverages sold in school canteens must be collectively agreed upon by the schools as well as the canteen operators, the parliament was told today.

Deputy Education Minister Lim Hui Ying said canteen operators cannot increase prices on their own as the matter is detailed in the canteen operators’ guidebook and canteen rental agreement.

“Schools have to ensure food and drinks in canteens are sold at a reasonable price.

“Any change in the price of food in the school canteen needs to be discussed and agreed upon by the school and the canteen operator.

“As a control and warning measure, the Education Ministry has instructed the state Education Department, district education officers and school administrators to monitor canteens,” the Tanjong MP told the chamber.

Lim was responding to a question raised by Hassan Saad (Baling-PN), who asked what the ministry is doing to tackle food price hikes in school canteens due to the high prices of raw materials.

Lim said the ministry, through ist Student Affairs Committee, is responsible for monitoring the operation of school canteens and to ensure the food sold is clean, of high quality, nutritious, safe and reasonably priced.

“This committee holds discussions with canteen operators to ensure the rules contained in the Healthy School Canteen Management Guide and the rental agreement, as well as the school canteen management (guidebook), are followed.

“Based on the guidebook, it is the responsibility of principals to ensure canteen operators sell food according to the list of food and drinks contained in the quotation attached to the schools’ canteen rental and management agreements,” she said.

Besides the principals and canteen operators, Lim said the committee includes each school’s parent-teacher association representative and a teachers’ representative, among others. – March 21, 2023.