This Law, consisting of 77 articles divided into seven Chapters, approves the Basic Law of the National School Feeding and Health Programme (PNASE). It defines principles, objectives, organizational rules and operating bases of school feeding in the Democratic Republic of S o Tom and Pr ncipe. In particular, PNASE aims to: a) Reinforce the sustainability of the school feeding programme; b) Contribute to improve children's food and nutritional security; c) Guarantee compliance with the right of access to education for all children, regardless of their origin, sex, and physical, psychological or social condition; d) Reinforce the importance of consuming local products in school meals. In the need for better access to education, in particular compulsory education, all measures must be taken to include vulnerable groups as beneficiaries of school meals, namely: a) Children from vulnerable families who benefit from social action programmes; b) Children with specific nutritional deficiencies; c) Female children; d) Children with other disabilities likely to affect access to education.
The Law applies to: a) All public establishments of pre-school education and basic and secondary education, as defined in Law No. 04/2019 of 18 February on the Basic Law of the Educational System; b) Private and cooperative education establishments offering school meals; c) Public or private entities managing the establishments above indicated. All children who attend establishments covered by this Law are entitled to school meals. The provision of school meals in S o Tom and Pr ncipe must be universal within the framework of compulsory education, in compliance with the norms and principles set out in Section IV.