Bartons Primary and Infant School in St. Catherine has been certified under the National School Nutrition Policy, after meeting the requirements for creating and maintaining a healthy school environment.
Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, who addressed the National School Nutrition Policy Certification Ceremony at the institution on Wednesday (October 29), congratulated the principal, teachers, students, parents and wider school community for their commitment to promoting healthy eating and positive lifestyle practices.
She said the certification represented a significant achievement and recognised the leadership, discipline and collective efforts demonstrated by the school community.
The Minister noted that her interaction with the students was impressive, describing them as intelligent, articulate and capable of asking thoughtful questions and synthesising information. “Whatever is happening in this school, to the teachers, the leadership, you are doing good work here,” she said.
Dr. Morris Dixon emphasised that proper nutrition was directly connected to educational achievement, arguing that hungry or poorly nourished children were less likely to concentrate and perform effectively in the classroom.
She said addressing nutritional needs from early childhood was essential to improving academic outcomes, including Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) performance and students’ progression to university.
She also highlighted the importance of establishing healthy habits during the early years, when significant brain development takes place.
The Minister urged schools to encourage greater consumption of water, fruits and vegetables, while reducing sugary drinks and promoting physical activity through initiatives such as Jamaica Moves.
She also encouraged parents to reinforce healthy eating habits at home, noting that proper nutrition was as important as providing school uniforms and transportation.
She disclosed that the Ministry was strengthening its school-feeding interventions, including the introduction of breakfast in schools identified under the National School Learning and Intervention Plan (NSLIP).
Other initiatives include reducing the sugar content of Nutrition Products Limited offerings, introducing products incorporating local produce, such as papaya and cherry muffins and pumpkin jam, and training school cooks to prepare more nutritious meals.
She said the Ministry was also collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture to increase the supply of fresh fruits and vegetables to schools, while expanding school gardens to encourage students’ participation in food production.
Dr. Morris Dixon noted that the National School Nutrition Policy provided an important framework for advancing children’s health and educational development, adding that the Ministry would continue working with the Ministry of Health and Wellness and other partners to have more schools meet the certification requirements.
She congratulated Bartons Primary and Infant School on its achievement, urging the principal, staff, students and parents to sustain their efforts and serve as an example to other institutions. “I will send a message of Bartons Primary and Infant School to the rest of the schools that I visit,” she said.