an agreement with CAF for the benefit of 15,000 high school students

This Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at the Mahatma Gandhi High School in Saint-André, Huguette Bello, the president of La Région Réunion and the director of the Caf de La Réunion Guillaume Lacroix, signed an agreement relating to the School Catering Reception Service (PARS). Objectives: “fight against food inequalities and strengthen the purchasing power of families”, indicate the two institutions. (Photo: Réunion Region)

According to the Region, this agreement will “mobilize nearly 5 million euros in 2024 to subsidize school meals for nearly 15,000 high school students”. This support aims to “facilitate access for the most disadvantaged students to school canteens, by reducing the cost of meals”, adds the Region.

PARS was established in 1993 in Reunion. It aims to be a lever for social action, adapted to the specificities of the Overseas Departments. “A recent advance, brought jointly by the Region and the Caf to the national authorities, has made it possible to revalue the fixed amount of the service to €2.15 per meal by decree n°2024-366 of April 22, 2024 (compared to 0. €31 per meal in previous years)”, further indicates the Region.

In addition to PARS, the Réunion Region has established, at the start of the 2023 school year, the “Kantine for 1 euro” system. Applied in the 45 public high schools on the island, according to the Region, “this system allows students to benefit from a complete meal (starter, main course, dessert) for only 1 euro, highlighting local and by promoting short circuits.

The agreement signed this Tuesday, November 26 illustrates “a long-standing cooperation between the Region and the Caf. This is based on a precise contractual framework, guaranteeing the transparency and effectiveness of the allocated funds”, continues the Region.

“In return, rigorous control systems will be put in place by Caf, while the Region is committed to preventing unpaid bills and maintaining a high level of quality in school catering,” the two institutions commonly indicate.

Réunion region, CAF, School catering