The Hanoi People's Committee is currently gathering feedback on a regulation for half-day lunch support for primary school students in the area, set to begin from the 2026-2027 academic year. Under this proposal, primary students attending educational institutions within the city (excluding those with foreign investment) who voluntarily opt for half-day services will receive lunch support.

Specific groups of primary students will receive 40,000 VND per student per day. These include children from ethnic minority communities, those residing in mountainous areas and the Red River midlands; students from poor and near-poor households; students with disabilities; orphans or abandoned children lacking a source of care; students under social protection; and children of individuals who contributed to the revolution.

Other primary students attending educational institutions will receive 28,000 VND per student per day.

Primary school students from Thanh Xuan Trung Ward, Thanh Xuan, play basketball after school. *Photo: Hoang Phong*

If parents and schools agree on a meal cost higher than the state-supported amount, the difference will be collected from the students, ensuring a minimum meal cost of 40,000 VND per student per day.

This support will be provided from the 2026-2027 academic year, based on the actual number of meal days within the school year, not exceeding 9 months per academic year. The funding for this initiative will come from the state budget.

For the 2026-2027 academic year, the city projects approximately 748,000 primary students, with about 650,000 participating in half-day programs. This 87% participation rate represents a 3% increase compared to the 2025-2026 academic year, and the total proposed budget for this initiative exceeds 3,600 billion VND.

The Hanoi People's Committee has already implemented half-day meal support for primary students since the 2025-2026 academic year, with a total budget exceeding 2,500 billion VND. Ensuring complete, hygienic, and nutritionally balanced meals helps students maintain sufficient energy for learning, playing, and physical activity throughout the school day. This has notably reduced fatigue, lack of concentration, and drowsiness during afternoon classes.

Beyond its physical impact, the policy also contributes to developing good skills and habits among students, such as: scientific eating, maintaining personal hygiene, self-service, adhering to collective living routines, and developing communication and civilized conduct skills within the school environment.

According to the plan, the resolution on lunch support for primary students will be submitted to the Hanoi People's Council for consideration and approval during its regular July meeting.

Vo Hai