As the 2026/2027 school year begins, the children’s rights organisation Educo warns of a major gap in school meal provision in Spain. According to the organisation, around 1.2 million children and young people are starting the new school year without a school meal grant. Only 981,000 pupils currently receive meal assistance. Educo bases this assessment on its own report, “Vuelta al cole, ¿vuelta al comedor?”, and cites official figures on risk of poverty. elDiario.es reported on 3 September.
Educo’s director, Pilar Orenes, criticises inadequate funding and fragmented eligibility criteria: Spain’s spending on school meals falls short of the level in other European countries. Orenes warns that the lack of grants “jeopardises the good nutrition of children and young people” when households cannot absorb rising costs. According to the organisation, more than 2.2 million pupils live in households at risk of poverty or social exclusion, yet fewer than half benefit from the so-called becas de comedor.
A key factor behind the gaps is that responsibility lies with the Autonomous Communities: eligibility criteria, application procedures and grant amounts vary considerably in some cases, as does the availability of school meal services. Experts point to significant regional differences in coverage and warn of particular pressures on families with several children. Some regions top up grants at municipal level, while others have kept budgets at the previous year’s level.
The facts should be distinguished from the proposals: the figures given describe the current level of provision at the start of the 2026/2027 school year. Policy proposals – such as binding, nationwide minimum standards for eligibility and support levels, as well as additional government funding – are the organisation’s position and require decisions by parliament and governments at national and regional level. In the short term, relief could come from adjustments to the budgets of the Autonomous Communities and municipalities; structurally, the issue is ensuring reliable school meal support based on income.
The debate has direct relevance to ongoing budget discussions. Educo advocates clearly defined eligibility thresholds, consistent data collection on those eligible and those receiving assistance, and greater transparency about waiting times and reasons for rejection. The aim, it says, is to close gaps in provision and avoid the health and education costs of malnutrition.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).