1 in every 3 students goes home hungry

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) has taken an important step by drawing attention to the problem of inequality in education with the start of the new academic year. 

Buğra Gökçe, President of the Istanbul Planning Agency (IPA) affiliated with the IMM, highlighted the widespread lack of nutrition in schools. Emphasizing that this issue is not a responsibility that can be shouldered solely by local governments, Gökçe stated that more comprehensive solutions are needed.

'EVERY STUDENT NEEDS TO RECEIVE ONE FREE MEAL'

In his statement, Gökçe said, "This issue is too important to be left to the initiative of local governments. Every student in schools needs to receive at least one free and healthy meal." The IMM has decided to distribute 2 million school nutrition packages to primary and middle school students.

'1 IN EVERY 3 STUDENTS DOES NOT EAT BREAKFAST'

Emphasizing that nutritional problems are widespread among students across Turkey, Gökçe touched upon the striking results of research. 

In Turkey, one in every three students does not eat breakfast before going to school, and 60 percent go without breakfast at least one day a week. Meanwhile, 19.2 percent of students go hungry at least one day a week due to a lack of money. Furthermore, while 2 percent of children cannot eat dinner at all after school, 1.9 percent go hungry every day due to economic reasons.