More students are now eligible for the first phase of the provincial school lunch program.

In an email to parents, Minister of Education Becky Druhan says older students can now be included.

“In schools that combine elementary and older grades, older students will now be included in phase one and be able to access lunches this fall. That means in a school that is pre-primary or primary to any other grade, all students will be able to access lunch.”

The original cut-off for phase one, was at grade 6.

Druhan adds there will also be a confidential online system for payment, that will not share the amount paid for a student’s meal.

Schools and food service providers are the only ones who will know a meal has been ordered.

Druhan says they will be providing more information about the lunch program at the beginning of the school year.

The program will be offered in 92 schools starting this October.