By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
VICTORIAN Education Minister James Merlino announced last week the most disadvantaged schools in Victoria will provide a free breakfast for students next year.
The $13.7 million Breakfast Clubs program will see 500 schools across the state provide a healthy start to the day, reaching about 25,000 children.
Sherbrooke community school is one of the schools participating in the program next year to ensure all their students have access to a healthy breakfast to start their day.
Mr Merlino said the program would help to eliminate education gaps between children from disadvantaged background and those from more privileged households.
“The Breakfast Clubs program is another way in which the State Government is tackling disadvantage in Monbulk so that all children can reach their potential, regardless of their circumstances,” he said.
A total of 174 schools will join the Breakfast Clubs program at the start of the 2016 school year, with another 75 schools from Term 2, and 251 schools from Term 3 next year.
The State Government and the largest food welfare organisation in Australia, Foodbank, have teamed up to make this initiative possible.
According to research carried out by Foodbank, 67 per cent of teachers in Australia are seeing children come to school hungry, with more than 26 per cent of those teachers reporting the problem is getting worse.
The research also found that students at government schools are three times more likely to be sent to school without breakfast compared to non-government schools.
The survey found that breakfast really is the most important meal of the day with hungry students finding it difficult to concentrate and becoming lethargic.
Over half of the children sent to school without breakfast experienced learning difficulties or exhibited behavioural problems, the research also discovered.
Mr Merlino said the Breakfast Clubs program would give every student the best opportunity to achieve and learn at the best of their ability.
“It sets our children up to concentrate, learn and be at their best,” he said.
The Breakfast Clubs program is part of a State Government initiative to make the education system in Victoria the best in the country.
“We’re investing almost $4 billion to make Victoria the Education State, so every community has access to great local schools and every child gets the chance to succeed,” Mr Merlino said.
