A Free Breakfasts for Schools programme, launched last week by the government in an effort to improve child nutrition and well-being, has met with some hiccups.

Breakfasts provided by the Ministry of Education and Training (MET) have started to roll out to primary and middle schools across the country but supply issues mean that the programme is not up to full speed yet and some schools missed out.

Fasi GPS was expecting to collect a breakfast today but will have to wait until the hiccups are resolved.

The government aims to provide free breakfasts to primary and middle schoolers across the country at least twice a week. This new initiative is called the Free Breakfast Project with the aim to ensure that every child, starts their day with a nutritious meal.

The project has been heralded as a significant step towards addressing the nutritional needs of young learners, particularly in “still developing” countries like Tonga, said the Deputy Director of MET's GPS Division, Herbert Takeifanga.

The first breakfasts were welcomed at some Tongatapu schools on 16 August.

However, the project has hit a roadblock due to difficulties faced by suppliers in delivering an adequate supply of milk, stemming from local supplier limitations and customs-related issues.

A source told Matangi Tonga that when the agreed supplier faced delays, supply was sourced from alternative local suppliers (Chinese shops) who currently cannot provide enough milk for a full coverage of the schools across the country.

It is understood that the relevant authorities are actively addressing these challenges. Measures being explored include diversifying suppliers, streamlining customs procedures or introducing incentives to encourage local milk production.

The project was launched today at the outer islands of Ha’apai and Vava’u.

Schools collect the breakfast supplies from MET, under the programme in the current budget that is expected to cost over $1.2 million annually.