The education department in the Eastern Province has warned schools in the region to keep their cafeteria food affordable and nutritious.

It said that inspectors would monitor cafeterias to check whether they comply. The department issued the directives following complaints from parents about high prices and poor quality food at local schools.

“For years now the school allowance for my children has been the same. We were forced to increase it this year because prices at the school’s cafeteria have risen significantly,” Seham Muhammad, a mother of three, told a local newspaper.

Another parent, Saud Ali, said his four children want more pocket money for school. “I've always refused but could not do so this year when I found out that the money I give them is not sufficient to buy what they need."

He said the school's cafeteria provides poor quality food.

Girl students at a local school said their two cafeterias charge high prices for juices, pastries, sweets and hot drinks.

One student said some pupils ridicule those who bring school lunches from home.

Suaad Al-Subhi, head of Qatif’s education supervision office, said the catering staff at cafeterias are responsible for pricing. “We will address any complaint we receive about the prices of school meals.”

Khaled Al-Hamad, spokesman of the general directorate of education in the Eastern Province, said: “Every meal or food item served to students should take into consideration different age levels, nutritional value, health requirements and affordable pricing.”

Al-Hamad said teams of supervisors with student representatives and nutritionists conduct inspections at schools.

“We've banned schools from selling energy and soft drinks, sweets, chips and small snacks classified as junk food.” There should be windows selling food for every 100 students to avoid overcrowding, he said.