A total of 467 schools across Bhutan will benefit from enhanced school feeding and nutrition programmes during the 2026–27 fiscal year as the government intensifies efforts to improve student health, wellbeing, and educational outcomes.
Highlighted in the State of the Nation Report 2026, the government has said that this underscores the growing recognition that quality education extends beyond classrooms and textbooks. Adequate nutrition is increasingly being viewed as a critical foundation for learning, attendance, concentration, and overall child development.
The expanded programme aims to ensure that students have greater access to nutritious meals while creating healthier and more supportive learning environments. It forms part of the government’s broader strategy to strengthen human capital development by investing in the physical and cognitive wellbeing of children.
As part of the initiative, 20 additional schools will be upgraded with Green Kitchens, bringing improved food preparation facilities, enhanced hygiene standards, and better meal management systems to schools across the country. The Green Kitchen programme is designed to provide safer, more efficient, and environmentally sustainable cooking facilities while improving the quality and nutritional value of meals served to students.
The expansion builds on a series of nutrition-focused interventions introduced under the 13th Five-Year Plan. Recognizing the growing cost of food and the importance of maintaining nutrition standards, the government has significantly increased support for school feeding programmes over the past two years.
One of the most notable measures has been the increase in the monthly school meal stipend from Nu 1,500 to Nu 3,100 per student, more than doubling the support provided to schools. The increase has enabled schools to better cope with rising food prices and provide more balanced and nutritious meals to students.
In addition, the government has introduced a daily egg programme, ensuring that every student receives one egg each day. Eggs are widely recognized as a rich source of protein and essential nutrients that contribute to healthy growth, improved immunity, and cognitive development among children.
Education and health experts have long emphasized the close relationship between nutrition and learning outcomes. Studies across the world have consistently shown that well-nourished children are more likely to attend school regularly, remain attentive in class, participate actively in learning activities, and achieve better academic results.
Conversely, inadequate nutrition can affect concentration, memory, physical growth, and overall school performance. For many children, particularly those from vulnerable households, school meals provide a crucial source of daily nutrition that supports both learning and wellbeing.
The programme is especially significant for students in remote and rural communities, where access to diverse and nutritious food options may be limited. In many boarding schools and remote areas, school feeding programmes play an essential role in ensuring that children receive regular and balanced meals.
By enhancing nutrition support, the government hopes to reduce disparities in educational outcomes and create a more equitable learning environment for students regardless of their socio-economic background or geographic location.
According to the Report, investments in school nutrition are intended not only to address immediate dietary needs but also to generate long-term social and economic benefits. Better nutrition during childhood contributes to healthier lifestyles, improved educational attainment, increased productivity, and stronger workforce participation later in life.
The expansion of school feeding initiatives also aligns with Bhutan’s broader development philosophy, which places equal importance on physical wellbeing, human development, and quality of life alongside economic progress.
Education remains one of the government’s highest investment priorities under the 13th Five-Year Plan, with Nu 82 billion allocated to the sector, representing 19 percent of the total plan outlay. The enhanced feeding programme forms an integral part of this larger commitment to improving education quality, student welfare, and human capital development.
With enhanced nutrition support reaching 467 schools across the country, the initiative marks another significant step in Bhutan’s efforts to ensure that children are not only able to access education but are also healthy, well-nourished, and equipped to realise their full potential. By investing in better nutrition today, the country is laying the foundation for a healthier, more productive, and more prosperous generation tomorrow.
Nidup Lhamo, Thimphu
