There are high chances of students going to school hungry this year, as families are still affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This, according to Lami District Council of Social Services president Asaeli Naisoro during an interview at his home in Nasevou St, Lami.
Last year, he said thanks to organisations such as Munro Leys, free lunches were provided to students in primary schools in Lami as breadwinners from underprivileged families in the area were laidoff their jobs.
“Most children in primary schools will go to school hungry because parents are still jobless and they do not have any other source of income,” Mr Naisoro said.
“Parents are struggling to put three meals a day on the table and where will they get money to buy their child’s school lunches.”
He said if it were not for the free lunches from Munro Leys, a majority of primary school students in Lami would have missed out on school.
“Schools in Lami say that the free lunches saw many children turning up to school and there was hardly any absenteeism recorded.”
He said they hoped similar assistance for children would continue this year.
