School feeding program faces budget gaps in Boyacá and expansion in Antioquia

The School Feeding Program (PAE) is experiencing divergent outcomes in different Colombian departments. In Boyacá, the program faces financial instability that has led to the suspension of morning rations at the Ramón Ignacio Avella Technical Educational Institution in Aquitania. Local officials attribute these shortages to budget delays from the Unidad Alimentos para Aprender and a 35% increase in food costs, which has forced reductions in portion sizes to maintain coverage for 63,000 students.

In contrast, the Antioquia government has announced a significant expansion of the program. By allocating 45.9 billion pesos from vehicle tax revenues, the department aims to increase coverage to 327,000 students across 116 non-certified municipalities by the end of 2026. This investment includes specialized rations for 6,412 indigenous students and ensures continued service through the end of the current academic year.