Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, has recently challenged Jeremy Miles MS, Minister for Education and Welsh Language, to review the universal free meals policy with the aim of establishing if it can be amended so that those who can afford to contribute, do so.
The call comes at a time when school governing bodies are having to look for significant savings; Wales' performance has fallen to its lowest level ever in maths, reading and science tests; and Conwy County Borough Council is facing a budget shortfall of up to £30m next year even after a school budgets have already been slashed by 5% and council tax increased by nearly 10%.
The Welsh Government has allocated grants of £40m in 2022/23, £70m in 2023/24 and £90m in 2024/25 to fund the free school meals policy.
Speaking after scrutinising the Minister for Education, Janet said:
“There is no doubt that the free school meal policy is benefiting some families who would struggle to pay, but we all know that there are parents who can afford to contribute.
“At a time when school governing bodies are having to look for savings, it makes no sense at all that children of affluent parents are getting a free lunch.
“Rather than expect our schools to make further cuts, I would like to see the free school meal policy revised so that support is given to those families which genuinely need it, and money freed up to help our places of education continue to operate.”
ENDS
Yn ddiweddar, mae Janet Finch-Saunders, Aelod o’r Senedd dros Aberconwy, wedi herio Jeremy Miles AS, Gweinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg, i adolygu'r polisi prydau am ddim cyffredinol gyda'r nod o weld a ellir ei ddiwygio fel bod y rhai sy'n gallu fforddio cyfrannu yn gwneud hynny.
Daw'r alwad ar adeg pan mae cyrff llywodraethu ysgolion yn gorfod chwilio am arbedion sylweddol; mae perfformiad Cymru wedi gostwng i'w lefel isaf erioed mewn profion mathemateg, darllen a gwyddoniaeth; ac mae Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy yn wynebu diffyg cyllidebol o hyd at £30m y flwyddyn nesaf hyd yn oed ar ôl i gyllidebau ysgolion gael eu cwtogi 5% a chynyddu’r dreth gyngor bron i 10%.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi dyrannu grantiau o £40m yn 2022/23, £70m yn 2023/24 a £90m yn 2024/25 i ariannu'r polisi prydau ysgol am ddim.
Wrth siarad ar ôl craffu ar y Gweinidog Addysg, dywedodd Janet:
"Does dim dwywaith bod y polisi prydau ysgol am ddim o fudd i rai teuluoedd fyddai'n ei chael hi'n anodd talu, ond rydyn ni i gyd yn gwybod bod rhieni allan yno sy'n gallu fforddio cyfrannu.
"Ar adeg pan mae cyrff llywodraethu ysgolion yn gorfod chwilio am ffyrdd o arbed, dyw hi ddim yn gwneud synnwyr o gwbl bod plant rhieni cefnog yn cael cinio am ddim.
"Yn hytrach na disgwyl i'n hysgolion wneud toriadau pellach, hoffwn weld y polisi prydau ysgol am ddim yn cael ei ddiwygio fel bod cymorth yn cael ei roi i'r teuluoedd hynny sydd wirioneddol ei angen, a bod arian yn cael ei ryddhau i helpu’n sefydliadau addysgol i barhau i weithredu.”
DIWEDD
