More than 2.2 million children in Spain are at risk of poverty, but only 981,000 receive a dining scholarship

In the midst of the great economic figures, which include the astronomical profits of technology companies, oil companies and banks, we stumble upon the poor reality of daily life. This September, the return to school will mean a difficult start to the school year for 1.2 million poor children who will not have the dining scholarship. The Education and Cooperation Foundation (Educo), with more than 30 years dedicated to the defense of children's rights, provides a disturbing x-ray of this most basic aspect of the economy: in Spain more than 2.2 million children and adolescents who go to school are at risk of poverty or exclusion, but scholarships and aid for school cafeterias only reach 981,000, according to the general director of the foundation Pilar Orenes.

According to this NGO, in the last year the investment in scholarships reached 659.4 million euros, 2.6% more than the previous year. Educo demands that the dining room be universal and free for all students. According to the NGO, this proposal would cost about 6,166 million euros per course, which represents 0.37% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Spain. A really high number, but not impossible. Spain invests 4.34% of GDP in public education and with the aforementioned aid to children it would rise to 4.71%. An amount much lower than that allocated to Education by Sweden and Finland, 6.9% and 6.3% respectively. Both countries guarantee school meals in the mandatory stages.

Of course, Sweden and Finland have many more resources, among other things, because the weight of taxes and social contributions represents more than 42% of their economy, while in Spain it is 37%, according to Eurostat. In this country, every time the progressive coalition government establishes or attempts to impose taxes on the skyrocketing profits of oil companies and banks, it encounters fierce resistance from these companies in Congress and in the courts, where they save a good part of their interests.

The risk of poverty or exclusion, which affects a third of children and adolescents, according to UNICEF, has a serious impact on nutrition. Nearly 450,000 children cannot consume meat, fish or equivalent proteins, according to the INE. Beyond the human impact, the Economic and Social Council estimates that child poverty represents annual losses of 63 billion euros (5.1% of GDP). Its president, Professor Antón Costas, advocates the establishment of a universal child-rearing benefit to complement the costs of education, food, housing and care.