Education Minister Dr. Ismail Shafeeu has revealed that even at present, over 400 students are provided breakfast in school under the 'Naasthaa' program introduced by the previous Ibrahim Mohamed Solih administration. 

Ruling People's National Congress (PNC) Parliamentary Group Leader Ibrahim Falah posed a question to the minister in today's parliament sitting about the reasons for halting the Naasthaa program. 

In response, the minister said that similar programs are conducted in other countries as well, emphasizing that the program in Maldives should be structured to fit the country. 

"When the law was drafted, it states, it was an MDP pledge at the time, to provide breakfast to every student. But it was the same MDP administration that later decided that breakfast will not be provided to all students, but rather to those who need it," Shafeeu said. 

"Even now, we are also gauging students in those circumstances at the start of every year. We discuss with stakeholders in those islands and provide the necessary support," the minister explained. 

Minister Shafeeu revealed that, even at present, over 400 students are benefiting from the Naasthaa program. 

Providing breakfast to students was a presidential pledge of former President Solih. On June 11, 2019, the government began providing breakfast to all students in morning sessions. 

Although the program was conducted in all schools at the time, it was later halted during school closures resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. When the program resumed in 2021, it was scaled down so as to provide breakfast not to all students, but only to those in need.