TAIPING: School canteen operators are not allowed to raise prices unilaterally, said Perak education director Hussain Harun.
“Stern action, including terminating their contracts, can be taken,” he said.
Hussain said school canteen operators are normally given a one or two-year contract to operate based on a list of prices submitted.
“Since they are under contract, they have to follow the list of prices provided to the school's canteen board.”
A parent had told reporters that a canteen operator at her son’s school had raised the price of a bowl of chicken noodle soup from RM1 to RM1.20, saying that the 20-sen increase was justified, as she had added a fish ball, unlike before.
Hussain said he understood the predicament of canteen operators and advised them to write to their respective canteen management boards for a price review.
Most canteen operators in the Klang Valley have not raised food prices.
Farah Johari, 17, who studies at SMK Bukit Indah, Ampang, said the price of food in her canteen remained the same.
“Soya drinks are RM1.70 and nasi goreng is RM1 a plate.
“I hope the prices don’t go up, as it’s already quite expensive,” she said.
However, SMK Bandar Utama Damansara 3 student Tan Lee Chin, 17, said food prices in her canteen went up a month ago, with no reason given.
