A large-scale and detailed survey is underway in Ukraine to assess the quality of student catering in general secondary education institutions. The initiative is being implemented in pursuance of a direct instruction from the country's Prime Minister and is carried out by the State Service of Education Quality. Interim results of the large-scale questionnaire demonstrate a mixed picture: on the one hand, basic conditions in most school canteens satisfy the majority of families; on the other hand, acute issues remain that require immediate intervention by specialized government agencies.
Interim Results and the Ministry of Education's Position
As of September 25, 2026, relevant agencies have managed to process and analyze 7,873 questionnaires filled out by parents of students attending full-time offline classes. As Minister of Education and Science Andriy Butenko emphasized during a speech at the mayors' summit within the framework of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the President of Ukraine, meals in every single Ukrainian school must meet the highest standards of quality and safety. Ministry representatives note high civic engagement, which makes it possible to form an objective picture of the situation on the ground.
Contradictory Data
The analysis of the collected questionnaires revealed certain discrepancies in assessments and perceptions of the situation by different agencies and parent committees. While official reports from the State Service of Education Quality emphasize that general conditions satisfy most respondents, independent expert reviews and specialized media data record a high level of dissatisfaction. In particular, according to analytical materials from the "Judicial and Legal Newspaper", nearly 40% of parents openly state their dissatisfaction with the variety of the school menu, pointing out the monotony of dishes. Meanwhile, other sources, such as Interfax-Ukraine, report that over 80% of surveyed families confirm their children regularly eat in school canteens. In addition, public awareness remains a serious problem: about 18.7% of parents admitted they do not have a clear idea of how a child's snack or meal is organized during a prolonged stay in a school shelter during air raid alerts.
Next Steps and Systemic Reform
Deputy Minister of Education and Science Anastasia Sofienko stated that it is critically important for the agency to rely on real feedback from Ukrainian families in order to promptly adjust the reform. It is worth recalling that a new stage of a large-scale school nutrition reform started in the country this academic year, within which hot lunches became completely free for every student regardless of their grade or region of residence. For parents who face violations or low food quality, officials recommend contacting the territorial administration of the State Service of Education Quality directly. Together with the State Prodspivzhiv служба (State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection) and local communities, the authorities intend to respond specifically to every alarming signal.
