Free Meals for All Schoolchildren: Starting from 2026, Students in Grades 1–11 Will Receive Lunch

Introduction of Free Meals in Ukraine

According to Главком: Starting from 2025, free meals will be introduced for students in grades 1–4, and from September 2026, the program will expand to students in grades 1–11 across the country. This decision is an important step in ensuring access to meals for children, which will be implemented throughout Ukraine.

For the implementation of the first stage of the program in 2026, almost 5.9 billion hryvnias in subsidies to communities are planned. The state budget for 2026 allocates 14.4 billion hryvnias for this program. Thanks to these efforts, 1.5 million primary school students will receive free lunches daily.

Yulia Svyrydenko, the Prime Minister of Ukraine, noted: 'The government is preparing all necessary decisions for this.'

She also emphasized that 'our priority is to create conditions for safe and comfortable learning for every Ukrainian child, regardless of their place of residence or learning format.' These initiatives aim to improve learning conditions and provide all children with equal access to quality meals.

Impact of the Program on the Education System

The introduction of free meals for students in grades 1–11 is an important step in the development of the education system in Ukraine as it alleviates the financial burden on families and ensures that children have the necessary nutritional resources for learning. The program, which will cover 1.5 million students, also underscores the government's commitment to social justice and equality in education.

This could have a positive impact on the overall health of children and their educational achievements.