In Trashigang, parents of children studying in Kanglung Primary School are requesting the provision of at least a lunch for the students. According to the school record, over 60 per cent of students are from farming families. Established in 1975, Kanglung Primary School is one of the oldest schools in the district, with close to 350 students as of today.
Every morning, parents prepare breakfast and pack lunch for their children to take to school.
Students carry their own meals and walk for around 30 minutes or even an hour if they reside far away.
Some of them, whose families reside near the school, have their parents deliver a packed lunch during the break.
A few students opt for fast food from nearby restaurants.
School records show that more than half the students come from farming families, around 30 per cent are children of civil servants, mostly working as support staff, and around 10 per cent from business communities.
Parents raised this during the parents-teacher meeting and even to the officials several times.
“We have to work in our gardens and feed cattle early morning. In addition, we have to make breakfast for children and pack their lunch and then only get to leave for the day’s farm work. It will immensely benefit us if the school provides a meal. Some students eat cold, packed lunch, whereas some, whose parents are alcoholics, go to school without lunch,” said Tshering Cheki, a parent.
“I get late sometimes as I stay far away from school. I have to wear a dress, eat breakfast and pack lunch. I will be happy to get a meal from school,” said Singye Dradu, a student of Kanglung Primary School.
Another parent, Meto said, “If the school provided meals, we would be able to start farming work early. As farmers, we entirely depend on farming. We will get time to work if the school provides a meal. Moreover, the packed lunch becomes cold by lunch break.”
The Director of the Department of Education Programme said that the school falls under the Urban 2 category according to the current school classification system and is therefore ineligible for the school feeding programme.
She added that unless there is a change in classification, it will be difficult for the school to provide meals.
The ministry currently extends the feeding programme only to rural schools.
Trashigang Middle Secondary School and Kanglung Primary School are the only schools without a feeding programme in Trashigang.
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
Edited by Phub Gyem
