Programa de Alimentación Escolar en Ecuador (EN)

The program was created in 1987 as a government policy and became a State policy with the Organic School Feeding Law (LOAE) on April 14, 2020. The purpose of the Law is to guarantee the right to sustainable food and nutrition for school-age children and adolescents who are part of the National Education System, enabling them to enjoy a dignified, healthy, and active life (Republic of Ecuador, 2020). It aims to contribute to good physical and mental performance during the school day, helping students stay alert in class, avoid fatigue, and achieve better performance by preventing fasting periods longer than four hours. This food ration may contribute up to 15% of the recommended daily caloric intake for students aged 5 to 18. It serves 2.8 million individuals, including: (a) children in early education, (b) children and adolescents in general basic education, and (c) high school students from prioritized larger educational units (Ministry of Education, n.d.).