For the past two days, Ms. Tran Thi Kim Chi (Phu Thuan ward) has had to take advantage of the break time between shifts to bring rice to Nguyen Van Huong Elementary School - where her child is studying.
This started after the school announced the temporary suspension of semi-boarding meals due to reflections that the meal provider was suspected of using expired meat in processing.
If you don't eat properly, you can't be assured. Before, I trusted her, so I let my child eat semi-boarding, now the family has to take care of it themselves," Ms. Kim Chi said.
According to Ms. Kim Chi, bringing rice causes the family to incur more time and costs and affects work, but they are forced to accept it to ensure the safety of their children.
Similarly, Ms. Nguyen Thi Loan (Tan My ward), a parent whose child is in 3rd grade, said that the family had to pick up their child to lunch right when the school stopped boarding.
Previously, semi-boarding helped my family feel secure to go to work, now I have to pick up and drop off many times a day, which is very inconvenient, but there is no other way," Ms. Loan shared.
Many parents said that having to pick up and drop off their children many times a day directly affects work and daily life.
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tan (Phu Thuan ward), a car repairman, took the opportunity to pick up his child while his hands and feet were still covered in grease.
While working halfway, I still have to run over to pick up my child to eat and rest. It's really inconvenient," Mr. Tan said.
According to parents, semi-boarding was once a necessary solution for families with both parents working. When semi-boarding was temporarily suspended, many people were forced to adjust their work schedules or ask relatives for support.
I hope there will be an official conclusion soon, strictly handle any violations so that parents can rest assured to let their children eat semi-boarding again," Mr. Tan expressed.
Previously, on January 28, An Phuoc Thang SG Trading Co., Ltd. (Sago Food) - a unit providing meals for many schools in Ho Chi Minh City, was reflected on using expired meat and substandard food in processing meals for students, causing much concern in public opinion.
Immediately after the reflection, schools that are using meals provided by this unit have temporarily stopped organizing semi-boarding to wait for the conclusion of functional agencies. During this time, parents have to bring rice or pick up their children for lunch.
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training requests schools to develop support plans, organize and manage boarding meals appropriately during the suspension period, ensuring absolute safety for students.
In addition, the Department requests schools to review and comprehensively report on the organization and provision of school meals; fully inspect the legal documents of the supplier, the supply process, transportation and delivery conditions, and the actual quality of meals.
The review must ensure compliance with food safety regulations, not only based on dossiers but also focusing on monitoring the implementation process in practice; fully and truthfully report information about the meal provider such as unit name, tax code, address, form of supply, number of meals per day and delivery time.
