School pupils to get free school meals as of September 2025

26 February 2025, Chișinău - As of 1 September 2025, pupils of grades V-IX in educational institutions in the Republic of Moldova will benefit from free breakfasts. Government approved a decision to this effect today.

The measure concerns about 153,000 pupils and is an extension of the free meal program, which until now was only available to primary school children.  Students in vocational and sports schools, as well as those in grades V-XII in the eastern districts of Moldova, Bender municipality and educational institutions in the security zone will benefit from the support.

It includes the approval of an order on sanitary norms for food products for students. Under the decision, the government will ensure students have access to healthy and balanced nutrition.

To implement the measure, over 205 million lei have been allocated from the state budget for 2025.