Ministry of Education and Science considers replacing the student meal subsidy with vouchers

The Ministry of Education and Science is assessing the possibility of revising the current scheme for supporting student meals.

Minister Vesna Janevska said on Telma’s “Win Win” program that, based on the methodology currently in force and the impact of inflation, the subsidy should be increased by around 7 denars. This would bring its value to 147 denars per meal.

At the same time, the Ministry of Education and Science is also considering another alternative, under which cash payments would be replaced with food coupons or vouchers that could be used at designated restaurants.

Janevska said that similar schemes are implemented in several countries in the region. She stressed that the proposal is still at the analysis stage and does not constitute an approved decision.

If this solution is approved, students would no longer receive the subsidy directly in cash, but would be able to choose meals at the restaurants included in the system.