Fed up Fife pupils are protesting about the quality and cost of school meals across the kingdom.
A deputation of pupils from Lochgelly and Beath high schools will attend Cowdenbeath area committee, supporting local pupil Bailey-Lee Robb, who is believed to be the youngest person to put forward a motion to Fife Council.
Bailey-Lee, 17, a member of the Scottish Youth Parliament, wants officers to investigate overpriced and sometimes “disgusting” offerings in school canteens.
He is being backed by committee convener, Labour councillor Linda Erskine. Bailey-Lee stressed the problem was Fife-wide.
“The prices for some of the stuff are ridiculous – it’s £1.40 for a sandwich which comes all the way from Glasgow. You can get better in Asda or Greggs for £1.
“The prices have just gone up but unfortunately the free school meal entitlement hasn’t gone up at the same time.”
That meant cash problems for some youngsters.
“The main meals are £1.55 and a 330ml bottle of water is 60p while the free entitlement is £2.10
“So you can see right away there’s not enough money for those pupils.
“This may be the only meal they are getting in a day.”
Some main meals, like chicken korma or macaroni cheese, were still popular, he said, but added: “Other things which should be selling out are just not getting sold because they are so awful.”
He cited a meal as particularly bad: “The ‘noodles’ are watery, the beef curry looks disgusting.”
Just before the Easter break he bought wedges and beef to try it before he took his motion to the committee.
He said the potatoes were undercooked, white and stuck together, while the beef was gristly and very poor quality.
With snacks and drinks on offer in local supermarkets for much less, he said the school meals were completely overpriced.
He said the authorities are: “”Just looking to make a profit, but you shouldn’t profit from kids, especially off some for whom this is their only meal. A change is needed.”
Ideally he would like young people “put at the centre” of that, given free rein to design a menu and then find a compromise with officers.
Senior manager Tariq Ditta said Fife Council aimed to provide tasty, nutritious meals conforming to the Scottish Government’s rules and ethos.
“We positively welcome the views of all stakeholders particularly from young people.
“I look forward to hearing from Lochgelly pupils attending this forthcoming committee meeting and understanding their wants, to help us improve our service and increase the uptake of school meals.
“We’re particularly keen to ensure pupils from lower income households are taking the opportunity to have a free hot meal and will review our product range against the daily meal allowance.”
