Some schools in the rural and maritime areas are yet to receive their free milk and weetbix supply due to the unavailability of transport.

However, Education Minister Dr Mahendra Reddy is hopeful that all primary schools will receive their supplies by mid next month.

“For example Cicia, Rotuma because of transportation problem – so we have spoken to the distributor and the supplier – both of them are working very hard providing additional transportation but that only helps in regards to the mainland. If you want to double up the transportation but it doesn’t help in regards to maritime because of the shipping schedule.”

Dr Reddy says the ministry did not distribute the products late last year as argued by many because it cannot be stored for long and some schools in the maritime areas are not secured properly.

The national Free Milk Program for Year One students was launched in June last year.