Is school lunch in China free?
China launched the Free Lunch for Children (FLC) Initiative in 2011 because students in remote poverty-stricken villages had to endure hunger because their families were too poor to afford lunch or their families were too far away from their schools.
Since 2014, central government funding for the school meal program has remained unchanged at 4 yuan per person per meal. The African swine fever that slashed China's pork production in 2019 and 2020 further rattled the school meal program.
Research shows that receiving free or reduced-price school lunches reduces food insecurity, obesity rates, and poor health. In addition, the new school meal nutrition standards are having a positive impact on student food selection and consumption, especially for fruits and vegetables.
Free school meal
Sweden, Finland, Estonia and India are among the few countries which provide free school meals to all pupils in compulsory education, regardless of their ability to pay. Many countries provide meals to improve attendance rates.
The Chinese people usually work between 08:00 and 18:00 each day, with a lunch break from 12:00 to 14:00. However, local variations may occur due to the time difference or policy in different cities.
Lunch/Dinner/Supper - 20–80 yuan (3–12.5 USD) Rice and noodles are the main food staples in China and they often appear on the table for mid-day and evening meals.
Nine-year compulsory education policy in China enables students over six years old nationwide to have free education at both primary schools (grade 1 to 6) and junior secondary schools (grade 7 to 9). The policy is funded by government, tuition is free. Schools still charge miscellaneous fees.
The average tuition fees in Chinese public universities range between 2,500 and 10,000 USD/academic year. You can also find several programmes with no tuition fees. These are usually offered by universities from other countries (e.g. the UK, Germany, Denmark), which have campuses in China.
Equal access to education cannot exist without equal access to food. Food at school must be funded in a way that respects the fact that it is as integral to learning as teaching and equipment. Without universal free school meals, the children who need food the most are likely to be the ones who get the least.
Serving a free school meal for one year increased children's intake of healthy foods, especially among children with lower socio-economic status. This study may contribute to promoting healthy eating and suggests a way forward to reduce health inequalities among school children.
Are school lunches really important?
For many children, the food they get at school is the only healthy meal they will eat all day. By improving school meals, we are providing vital nutrients to growing minds. School lunches matter! Ask any teacher or doctor and they'll tell you that children who lack proper nutrition have trouble focusing in school.
- Spain – 3 hours. You probably know the famous Spanish siesta. ...
- Greece – 3 hours. Unlike the Spaniards who use the break time to rest, the Greeks use it for eating. ...
- China – 2 hours. ...
- France – 2 hours. ...
- Brazil – 2 hour lunch break.
In some districts and states, there is no income limit – school lunch remains free for all students. Keep reading for more details. But in most places, only children in families with incomes at or below 130% of the federal poverty level are now eligible for free school meals.
Country | Lunch Break Duration |
---|---|
Mexico | 30 minutes |
New Zealand | 30 minutes |
Spain | 28 minutes |
Poland | 24 minutes |
Lunch time in China runs from noon to 1pm if you are working in an office/school (then there's siesta time till about 2pm). Lunch can last from about noon to 2pm if it's the weekend or you are out with a guest.
The 996 working hour system (Chinese: 996工作制) is a work schedule practiced by some companies in the People's Republic of China. It derives its name from its requirement that employees work from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, 6 days per week; i.e. 72 hours per week.
The food types in China are rich enough to meet the needs of all tastes at almost any price. Therefore, the Chinese food familiar to foreigners is actually the cheapest and simple Chinese food. A lot of food is relatively cheap in China due to lower taxes and lower production and distribution costs.
When you are invited to an official dinner, it will be called a “banquet,” even though the guest list could be as small as eight people. The person who invites a group to dinner is the official host, and he pays. On the flip side, if you invite others out for a restaurant or fast food meal, expect to pay their bill.
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Cost of Living in China.
Restaurants | Edit |
---|---|
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | 36.00¥ |
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) | 7.50¥ |
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) | 20.00¥ |
In China, the school term usually starts in September of each year. Then, the Winter holiday usually takes place at the end of January until early February. These dates vary depending on the date of the Lunar New Year of that particular year as it usually takes place 15 days before and after the Lunar New Year.
How strict is school in China?
Nowadays, kids in China follow a strict schedule crafted by their parents that's comparable to an adult's 9-5 routine, with only 1-2 hours of break time each day. After school ends, many parents take their children to afterschool programs so that they can excel over their competition.
There are two main holidays in the school year: the summer vacation and the winter vacation. The winter vacation cuts the school year in half and lasts for approximately one month, and it includes the Spring Festival which last for 15 days.
Year | Ages | Stage |
---|---|---|
8th grade | 13–14 | Middle school |
9th grade | 14–15 | |
10th grade | 15–16 | High school |
11th grade | 16–17 |
Country | Tuition (Internationals) |
---|---|
Germany | Free |
Greece | EU-dependent |
Iceland | Free |
India | Nominal fees |
In China, we start our nursery school from 3 years old, until 6 years old. Primary School: not younger than 6 years old, usually, it is from 6–12 years old. Junior middle school: From 12–14 years old. Senior middle school: from 15–18 years old.
The school days usually last a whole day (from around 8:00 until 17:00) with 45-minutes-long classes, with a little more flexible schedules in more rural areas. In China's metropolises, where lunch breaks are shorter, kids might finish school around 15:00 as well.
What are the Average Fees for Secondary School in China? Most public secondary schools are free for the first three years of secondary education and the fees for the second half of the secondary education depends on the school. Parents usually have to pay for the study supplies and uniform for public education.
A growing number of Chinese students are choosing to study abroad when they reach the college level. However, at the elementary, middle school and high school levels, Chinese parents consider the Chinese education system to be the best in the world.
Schools currently receive £2.34 per meal for infant children – the funding level was set at £2.30 in 2014, increased by just 4p (1.7%) in 2020, and was then frozen again.
In 1906 legislation allowed rate-payer-funded feeding programmes to alleviate the worst distress but only in areas where local authorities chose to adopt the legislation. Many did not. 1940s legislation compelled all local authorities to provide free nutritious meals for all schoolchildren.
How can free school meals be improved?
Schools can improve take up of free provision by providing meals that parents value and pupils want to eat. In schools with a cafeteria the value of the free meal should keep pace with the purchase price of a healthy meal. Schools, LEAs and benefit providers need to ensure that parents are aware of their eligibility.
School meals are nutritious. Research shows that students who participate in the school meal programs consume more whole grains, milk, fruits, and vegetables during meal times and have better overall diet quality, than nonparticipants.
By the end of the school year, on average a child exposed to free lunches is 1.2 percentage point more likely to be of 'healthy weight' and 0.7 percentage points less likely to be obese, and has body mass index (BMI) that is 4.3% of a standard deviation lower than one who is not.
Participation, Meals Served and Program Cost
Pre-pandemic, nearly 100,000 schools/institutions serve school lunches to 29.6 million students each day, including: 20.1 million free lunches. 1.7 million reduced price (student pays $0.40)
Schools also have a limited budget when it comes to feeding students. So, that all means that school food needs to be lower cost and not require much preparation, which means foods are often higher in sugar, fat and salt.
Because people are expected to work 8–12 hours a day, 5 days a week or more to be able to survive in society.
Students with longer lunch times eat more nutrients than students with a shorter lunch times (4). The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that students be given enough time to eat their school lunch because they are more likely to enjoy their food and eat healthier options when they are not rushed (5).
In Finland, children get a 15-minute break every 45 minutes.
This equates to an average of three hours and 45 minutes of educational instruction each day.
Finland School Hours
Typically, the Finnish school day starts anywhere from 9 to 9:45 a.m., and students typically spend only about five hours a day in the classroom. What's more, Finnish students typically have little to no homework.
Israel is the only country in the developed world where children go to school six days a week.
What country has the nicest food?
- Italy. #1 in Has great food. #14 in Best Countries Overall. ...
- Mexico. #2 in Has great food. #33 in Best Countries Overall. ...
- Spain. #3 in Has great food. #16 in Best Countries Overall. ...
- Greece. #4 in Has great food. ...
- Thailand. #5 in Has great food. ...
- France. #6 in Has great food. ...
- Turkey. #7 in Has great food. ...
- India. #8 in Has great food.
Japan has one of the lowest obesity rates globally, which is likely a result of offering pupils food such as miso soup with pork, rice with grilled fish, milk, and dried fruit for dessert. South Korea is another country known for its healthy school lunch offerings and emphasises health education.
France. French have a very lavish breakfast that they call 'a la francaise'. It has butter as well as jam spread over bread toasts. They enjoy it with a hot cup of coffee to kick start their day.
Your child will be able to get free school meals if they're in a government-funded school and in: reception class. year 1. year 2.
In England, all children in reception, year one and year two are guaranteed a free lunch (and sometimes milk) as part of the universal infant free school meals scheme. In Scotland, children at local council schools can get free school lunches during term-time in primary one to five.
Income-eligible students in Texas receive school lunches for free or at a reduced price, while higher-income students can also eat lunch through the school's food program, but they pay full price for meals. Local school lunch programs determine meal prices and track the number and type of meals served.
Nine-year compulsory education policy in China enables students over six years old nationwide to have free education at both primary schools (grade 1 to 6) and junior secondary schools (grade 7 to 9). The policy is funded by government, tuition is free. Schools still charge miscellaneous fees.
In China, schools offer scholarships that cover tuition fees as well as accommodation, subsistence, and visa and travel expenses so that you can study in China for free.
In the country's mega-cities, like Beijing and Shanghai, pupils go to school from 8am to 3pm with an hour and a half for lunch. But in most areas around the country, there's a break from school for lunch and, often, a lunch-time nap at home.
China School Hours
In large cities like Shanghai, for example, Chinese students spend 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at school with an hour and a half for lunch, but in other areas, kids get to head home for nap time at lunch!
Do Chinese students eat lunch at school?
It is common to find Chinese people having their lunch break at around 12-2pm, this is similar to Western countries. This is the time where most schools and businesses let out for a brief lunch.
Chinese students attend classes five or six days a week from the early morning (about 7 am) to early evening (4 pm or later). On Saturdays, many schools hold required morning classes in science and math. Many students also attend 補習班 (buxiban), or cram school, in the evening and on weekends.
China has passed an education law that seeks to cut the “twin pressures” of homework and off-site tutoring in core subjects, the country's official Xinhua news agency said on Saturday.
break from academics, which doesn't hamper their ability to learn and may enhance their ability to learn. In Shanghai, students have a 10-minute recess time for every 40 minutes of instruction, excluding the lunch break and “nap time” right after lunch.