CANTEEN operators at schools participating in the Selangor Nutrition Programme (Nutrisel) will be monitored to ensure that the free meals served meet required standards.
Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the quantity, quality and nutritional value of the meals would be evaluated by the school administration and Selangor Education Department (JPN Selangor).
“Ensuring that food is adequately portioned, hygienically prepared and nutritionally balanced can contribute to students’ health, well-being and ability to concentrate in the classroom,” he said after visiting SK Taman Dato’ Harun 1 and SMK Taman Medan to observe the programme’s implementation in Petaling Jaya.
“Apart from the school’s administration and JPN Selangor, the Selangor State Economic Planning Unit (Upen) also receives daily reports,” he said.
Nutrisel, a free school breakfast initiative by Selangor government, was implemented on Aug 3.
Free meals are given to students twice a week, every Monday and Thursday.
A total of 104,640 students from 916 schools under JPN Selangor and another 16 schools under the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) are benefitting from the programme, which will be carried out until October.
Nutrisel is allocated an estimated RM12.56mil.
Other than national schools, vernacular, missionary, religious and vocational institutions are also participating in Nutrisel.
JPN Selangor director Datin Wan Nor Ashikin Abu Kassim said breakfast played a crucial role in supporting students’ health, energy levels and concentration, making it an essential part of their daily school routine.
“We are grateful to Selangor government for Nutrisel as it helps students from the B40 group, namely households with incomes below RM2,000,” she said.
SK Taman Dato Harun 1 headmaster Meor Kamarul Hazri Sohaimi said the programme has greatly benefitted pupils by ensuring they began their schoolday with a nutritious meal so that they could focus on lessons.
“The free breakfast programme provides meaningful assistance to families by strengthening the broader social safety net,” he added.
SMK Taman Medan principal Lily Juliani Jaafar said Nutrisel supported the students’ welfare while helping ease the financial burden faced by families.
The assistance, she said, would reduce the parents’ daily cost of providing breakfast for their children.
Earlier, Amirudin presented financial aid of RM25,000 to SK Taman Dato Harun 1 towards the repair of the school’s science laboratory, and RM50,000 to SMK Taman Medan for classroom repairs.
