Sicily rolls out €10 million school cafeteria upgrade and voucher scheme

The Sicilian regional government announced a €10 million plan to expand full‑time schooling, modernise school cafeterias and introduce €7 meal vouchers for secondary‑school students. Funding will cover the construction or renovation of refectories – up to €50,000 for facilities with up to 100 seats, €100,000 for 100‑200 seats and €200,000 for tent‑type canteens – and offers a supplementary €20,000 grant to each primary school that already provides catering.

The initiative is presented as a measure to curb school‑age dropout and to help families balance work and family life. President Renato Schifani said the investment “means investing in the future of Sicily and its families”, while education assessor Mimmo Turano added that “we fight dispersion by making schools attractive and introducing new tools that keep students after school”.

A recent study by Cittadinanzattiva highlighted that Sicily’s school‑meal costs are below the national average, but noted that only 14.4% of state school buildings have a cafeteria – the lowest share in Italy. The plan aims to raise that share, improve the quality of school meals and provide financial relief to families.