Kai in Schools a Welcome Relief

The announcement by the Prime Minister John Key of the extension of the Kick Start Breakfast and fruit in schools scheme into all Decile 1 to 4 schools has been hailed by as a 'major and necessary breakthrough" by Iwi Authority Te Maru o Nga Kura a Iwi o Aotearoa Head Dr Toby Curtis.

"This intervention is not before time as it has been blatantly obvious for quite some time now that an unacceptably large number of our children were going hungry at school. So I welcome the fact that the Prime Minister has delivered on his earlier rhetoric on this issue with the Maori Party no doubt in his ear."

"The financial cost is worth the savings in terms of growing human capital and potential which has been at risk because of something as basic as no kai in the belly hence no engagement in learning by these hungry tamariki of ours."

"I would stress the fact however that this intervention must be seen as precisely that a temporary stop gap measure of finite duration. Kai in schools must never become a permanent feature of our education system viewed as such as a right by society at large."

"What is beyond dispute however is that the fundamental right of each and every one of our children to a decent and proper education should not be compromised by the failure of the government to meet its core role of overcoming the conditions that give rise to poverty."

"The dignity of being able to feed our kids 24/7 year in year out must be restored to our whanau and as quickly as possible. The State must never ever become the surrogate parent!"

ENDS

© Scoop Media