‘Schools’ menus will be modified’
The Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training will soon be moving to modify the menu for the School Meals Programme in Barbados, to ensure more nutritious meals are delivered to the island’s children.
According to Acting Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, Lucille Moe, the Ministry will also be looking closely at the meals sold to students at school canteens and by vendors.
The Acting Education Minister addressed the issue as she delivered remarks at the “Beyond the Call to Action Event” held by the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados (HSFB) at the Hilton Hotel yesterday, under the theme “Towards School Policies in support of Childhood Obesity Prevention”. The event took place even as the nation joined with others around the globe, to celebrate Universal Children’s Day.
“As you know, we provide schools meals, and we have been looking at the menu that we currently provide and we have made a decision to modify and change that menu, in the interest of our children,” Minister Moe remarked.
She added, “The meals that are provided in schools, we are also looking at that as well. We are in discussion with the Ministry of Health and Wellness to come up with a comprehensive plan, as to what should be provided to children in the schools in the canteens and amongst the vendors.
“I know this is perhaps a subject that currently is a bit controversial, but there is need to address it and explain to Barbadians some of why we are doing what we are doing,” she also stated.
Moe meanwhile stressed that the Ministry’s first and foremost consideration must always be the children under its care and, as such, the Ministry must do what is best for them.
“We cannot deviate from that in order to satisfy other concerns, where we know that those other concerns may not be what is best for the children of Barbados,” she stressed.
“So I want to make it very clear that the Ministry of Education will continue to support all schools that are doing what they consider to be right and that will interest the children of Barbados,” Minister Moe maintained, whilst pointing out that children need a healthy diet coupled with physical activity, in order to be successful in the school environment.
Minister of Health and Wellness, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Bostic later revealed that officers from the Ministry of Education are working closely with personnel from his Ministry regarding the implementation of policies and programmes, in connection with the National Plan for Childhood Obesity.
“These polices include improvement in the National Schools meals Programme, to facilitate the adoption of dietary guidelines for healthy and nutritious foods for children,” he confirmed.