Cologne school fights child hunger with call for free meals
A school in Cologne is pushing for free meals after teachers noticed children arriving at class hungry. Katharina-Henoth Comprehensive School, where 90% of students have a migrant background, faces some of the highest levels of social deprivation in the city. Staff say poverty is stopping pupils from concentrating on their lessons.
At Katharina-Henoth Comprehensive School, many students start the day without food. Teacher Numan Sarrac has seen firsthand how hunger affects their ability to learn. The school already runs a free breakfast programme, funded by private donations, but staff believe more support is needed.
Principal Martin Süsterhenn is calling for free meals in schools with the highest deprivation rates. His concerns reflect wider issues in North Rhine-Westphalia, where one in five children is at risk of poverty. In response, Sarrac launched a petition demanding free school meals for all children in the region. It has gathered over 12,400 signatures so far. Providing universal free lunches across the state would cost around €2 billion each year. Despite the price tag, campaigners argue the investment is necessary to tackle child hunger and improve educational outcomes.
The petition continues to gain support as teachers highlight the impact of poverty on learning. If successful, the proposal could see free meals introduced in schools with the greatest need. The debate now centres on whether the government will allocate the required funding to make it happen.
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