Summary.
The bill amends Article 255 of Law 47 of 1946 to require operating school cafeterias in every public school at the first level of instruction or general basic education. The Ministry of Education (Ministerio de Educación) would allocate the funds needed for cafeteria infrastructure and operation from its annual budget. It would also give priority to hiring staff from the corregimiento (district) or area where each school is located to work in the cafeterias. The requirement would apply to all public schools providing that level of education.
A public school could also operate a cafeteria for students above the general basic education level when its administration considers one necessary and appropriate. The Ministry of Education could contribute to the cost and upkeep of those cafeterias. School administrators, their Home Economics sections and school gardens, parent clubs, student associations, the Red Cross (Cruz Roja), and other institutions could help support and maintain the cafeterias. The Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo) would regulate their organization.
New Article 255-A would direct the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud) to establish nutritional guidelines for preparing the school cafeterias’ meal plan and ensuring its high nutritional value. Based on that plan, the Ministry of Education would purchase the required food, giving priority to products of national origin. The proposed arrangement places responsibility for the nutritional guidelines with the health authority and responsibility for food procurement with the education authority.
New Article 255-B would require the Ministry of Education to provide school uniforms to public school students facing economic hardship. The uniforms would be paid for from its annual budget and delivered no later than the first school term. A social worker would assess the student’s family circumstances, verify the economic hardship, and determine whether the request qualifies. While that assessment is pending and until the uniform is delivered, the student could attend classes in ordinary clothes. Schools could also establish uniform banks stocked through in-kind donations of new uniforms or used uniforms in good condition from the school community, nongovernmental organizations, or the private sector.
The bill gives the Executive Branch no more than six months to issue regulations for the proposed law. It specifies that Article 255 is amended and Articles 255-A and 255-B are added to Law 47 of September 24, 1946, the Organic Law of Education (Ley 47 de 24 de septiembre de 1946, Orgánica de Educación). The proposed law would take effect in the fiscal year following its promulgation. Its provisions concern the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, and the Executive Branch, as well as public schools, families, social workers, food and uniform suppliers, and organizations that could support cafeterias or uniform banks.
What it proposes.
- School cafeterias in public schools.
- Nutritional guidelines and food procurement.
- Provision of school uniforms and uniform banks.
Who it would affect.
- Public schools.
- Students in general basic education.
- Students facing economic hardship.
- Staff and organizations involved with cafeterias or uniform banks.
Key points.
- Proposes operating cafeterias in every public school offering the first level of instruction or general basic education.Art. 1
- Funds cafeteria infrastructure and operation through the Ministry of Education’s annual budget and gives priority to hiring local staff.Art. 1
- Allows cafeterias for higher education levels when school administrators consider them necessary and appropriate, with possible financial and maintenance support.Art. 1
- Assigns nutritional guidelines to the Ministry of Health and food purchases under the meal plan to the Ministry of Education, with priority for products of national origin.Art. 2
- Provides uniforms for students facing economic hardship after a social worker’s assessment and no later than the first school term.Art. 3
- Allows students to attend in ordinary clothes while their request is processed and permits schools to create uniform banks supplied by donations.Art. 3
- Requires regulations within no more than six months and sets commencement in the fiscal year following promulgation.Arts. 4-6