When term three of the 2022-2023 school year kicks off in April, it will be mandatory for all beverages sold in schools to be unsweetened with absolutely no sugar or artificial sweeteners added, Minister of Education Kay McConney has announced.
This stipulation is among several included in the Barbados School Nutrition Policy launched at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute (SJPI) on Wednesday.
The education minister said the policy also clearly outlines that healthy dishes must be served on Tuesday and Thursday, while vegetables must be served with all meals.
“Healthy snacks as recommended by the National Nutrition Centre and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados (HSFB) will be sold on campus. A list of healthy snacks compiled by the HSFB will be issued to principals, canteen concessionaires, vendors and persons who operate tuck shops at schools.
“Water Wednesday will continue with two other days in the week. Fruit Fridays will continue with two other days in the week. Students will be allowed to drink water throughout the day, during class time. Primary school personnel and clubs at secondary schools must sell healthier options to raise funds,” McConney said.
The minister added that parents will be invited to meetings to encourage them to support the changes, while canteen operators are encouraged to attend workshops sensitising them about how to contribute to a healthy school environment.
She said teachers will also be encouraged to integrate the teaching of healthy lifestyles into other subjects and there will be a focus on healthy eating and fitness in Health and Family Life Education. Additionally, a Heart and Stroke Foundation Monitoring App, once approved, will be used by authorised persons, Minister McConney advised.
She further outlined that HYPE days (Healthy Youth through Physical Education) will be executed in all nurseries, special needs, primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, with students and staff participating in a variety of activities which promote healthy lifestyles.
“Fitness Fridays will be introduced in all schools. The physical education curriculum will be upgraded up to Form 4. A syllabus, related to healthy nutrition and activity, will be created for early childhood and infant cohorts with allotted periods of programme delivery,” she said.
The Barbados School Nutrition Policy will be used as a guide for planning and creating strategies for improving the school environment.
The policy’s overarching objective is to create a healthy school environment that enhances student learning and is conducive to the development of healthy, lifelong eating and behaviours through an integrated approach that engages multiple sectors including government, private sector, non-governmental and non-profit organisations.
Programme Manager of the Childhood Obesity Prevention Programme, at the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Francine Charles who presented the Monitoring App and alternative snack and beverage list to the Ministry of Education, said the foundation was pleased with the policy intended to secure the nation’s future.
Explaining that the list was coordinated by health professionals to help parents and canteen operators become familiar with better options as they navigate the policy, Charles said that the monitoring app was designed by a local developer to assist with monitoring and evaluations at schools to ensure compliance with and support for the policy.
“So what are the app’s features? It’s going to be a simple survey, very easy on your phone, very quick to complete. It’s secure and information on the users who are involved will not be captured. However, only very specific persons authorised by the Ministry of Education will be allowed to use the app,” Charles said.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw said the ministry met with canteen operators and vendors last Saturday to inform them about the role they must play in assisting with the roll-out of the policy.
Dr Archer-Bradshaw said that while there is no existing legislation to govern the vending of “unhealthy” foods, those who attended the meeting were interested in creating healthy food environments.
“We are very well aware that the canteen concessionaires are on contracts, so it is in their best interest to serve meals and to sell beverages that are conducive to the health of our young people. With regard to the vendors who are around the school, a similar thing applies.
“I am very grateful to Francine Charles from the Heart and Stroke Foundation and her team who have gifted us with a monitoring app and this will allow us to go out there within the school environment and outside the school environment to see what is happening and that monitoring app will allow us to take the actions that we have to take with regard to preventing vendors who are not supporting the mandate as given by the Ministry of Education,” Dr Archer-Bradshaw said.
(anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb)
