Shortly after taking office, officials of the Mejia administration announced a plan to substantially improve the school breakfast by which many of the nation?s public schoolchildren derive a good part of their daily nutrition. Two months later, not only have no improvements been instituted, but the quality of school breakfasts has been ?degraded.? This is the finding of reporter Mercedes Gonzalez, the result of whose investigative reporting appears on the front page of today?s El Siglo. Gonzalez interviewed Ministry officials, teachers, and suppliers of the components of the school breakfast. She learned that (1) the contracts of some suppliers of milk have been canceled due to failure to perform, (2) breakfast, at best, currently comprises bread and milk, (3) only a small percentage of schools are receiving any breakfasts at all, (4) milk often arrives curdled (if liquid) or contaminated (if powdered), and (5) the Ministry has substantial unpaid bills pending with suppliers. In August, Deputy Education Minister for Student Welfare, Omar De Leon, had announced that school breakfasts would include eggs and mangu (mashed plantains) as well as seasonal fruits and vegetables. Interviewed for the El Siglo article, De Leon blamed the problem on non-performing contractors and a collective debt of DR$72 million left by the previous administration with reliable suppliers. All suppliers contacted for the article affirmed that the Education Ministry owes them money. Some teachers said that they prefer to throw the milk out rather than serve it to children due to its often-dubious appearance.
