Individual Stallholder System remains MOE's primary operating model for school canteens: Desmond Lee

The Individual Stallholder System (ISS), where independent operators run individual food stalls, is still the "primary and predominant" model for school canteens in Singapore, said Minister for Education Desmond Lee in a written parliamentary reply on Jan. 13.

Key priorities behind decision to expand CKMM

Workers' Party Member of Parliament (MP) He Ting Ru had asked about the criteria used to evaluate the effectiveness of the Central Kitchen Meal Model (CKMM) pilot at Yusof Ishak Secondary School, as well as the key priorities behind the decision to expand the model to 13 other schools from January 2026.

Under the CKMM, a single operator will manage the school canteen.

In response to He, Lee said the Ministry of Education had evaluated the pilot on four key criteria:

• Operational efficiency
• Food quality
• Cost-effectiveness
• Student satisfaction

The pilot, which began in 2022 at Yusof Ishak, showed that the model could "streamline meal preparation and distribution, while meeting nutritional standards and food safety guidelines", he said.

At the time, the school had just moved into its new campus and did not have existing stallholders.

Individual Stallholder System still the main model

Nevertheless, Lee affirmed that the ISS remains its main canteen model, and MOE will continue to support schools and stallholders operating under it.

The CKMM, he said, serves as an alternative for schools which face difficulties in finding enough stallholders for their canteens.

This formed the basis for the expansion to the 13 other schools, with the aim of allowing students in those schools to continue to have access to healthy and affordable meals.

Operators under CKMM to provide at least 1 full meal

Under the CKMM, central kitchen operators will provide at least one full meal priced at a maximum of S$2.70 in primary schools and S$3.60 in secondary schools.

The three vendors appointed for the model are Chang Cheng Mee Wah Food Ind Pte. Ltd., Gourmetz Pte. Ltd., and Wilmar Distribution Pte. Ltd.

Some schools also have vending machines selling pre-packed meals.

Recent criticism over the bento meals

However, bento meals served under the CKMM have recently come under the spotlight, with feedback on their quality, pricing and portion sizes.

One parent at a school whose canteen is run by Wilmar Distribution had reported missing items from orders and delays in food distribution.

Others also raised concerns that the food was not served hot and was often at room temperature.

Top photos via First Sights and CHIJ Kellock/Facebook