Japanese City Reverses Decision to Halt School Lunch Services

Suzuka, Mie Pref., Nov. 7 (Jiji Press)--The central Japan city of Suzuka will withdraw its decision to temporarily suspend lunch services for municipal nursery and elementary schools, Mayor Noriko Suematsu said Monday. "I have given instructions to consider revising the decision, in order not to reduce the number of times that school meals are offered," Suematsu told a press conference. Due to soaring vegetable prices, the education board in the Mie Prefecture city had previously decided to stop providing lunches at 13 nursery and 30 elementary schools on Dec. 20 and Jan. 12. According to the Suzuka city government, it has received around 30 to 40 comments from the public since the halt of the service was announced. These included requests to continue serving the meals through efforts to keep costs within the amount paid by parents, as well as suggestions to use public money for the lunches. END