University canteens across France began serving three-course meals for €1 to every student from 4 May, AFP reports, via eNCA. The meals previously cost €3.30 for most students, with the €1 price limited to those on low incomes or receiving grants.
The move follows surveys showing that 48% of students have skipped meals for financial reasons, with almost a quarter doing so several times a month. The government has set aside €120 million for the scheme next year. In 2024 around 667,000 students used the canteens, which served 46.7 million meals.
For students, the savings are real. One told AFP he would now spend about €20 a month on lunches instead of €60. It is a simple, practical way of making sure no one has to study on an empty stomach.
Source: AFP via eNCA