The Governing Council authorized on Wednesday an investment of 156,822,519 euros for the contracting of canteen services in public non-university schools, both for on-site kitchens and mixed modalities. This investment will allow the continued expansion of the network of canteens with their own kitchens, strengthening a model that is being extended across the public network.

This commitment has been progressively developed by the Department of Education in recent years and will continue in future academic years, within the framework of the Hezkuntza Eraiki 2030 Strategic Plan. This plan integrates the canteen service as an integral part of the educational model, rather than merely a complementary service.

According to data provided by the Basque Government, between 2021 and 2026, the on-site cooking model has seen significant growth. The number of student users has increased from 25,331 to 30,097, and the network of schools with their own kitchens has grown from 120 to 158. This growth has been particularly notable in Araba and Gipuzkoa, strengthening a balanced implementation of the model across all territories.

From 2026 onwards, the expansion will continue throughout Euskadi, with the installation of 30 new kitchens in educational centers and the establishment of ten zonal kitchens to serve centers that cannot have their own. Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basauri, and Donostialdea are some examples of this transformation.

This action follows up on the authorization approved last week for the transported menu service and represents another step in the transformation of the school canteen model in Euskadi. Thus, it is consolidated as a strategic public policy in favor of student well-being, equity, and adequate, healthy, and quality nutrition.