FAO, Brazil join hands for nutrition education curriculum review
The South – South Cooperation project seeks to address nutrition security in schools
26 November 2015, Kasungu – Nutrition education experts in Malawi have initiated a review of the country’s nutrition education curriculum to be incorporated in the curricula of Teacher Training Colleges.
The review was made during a two-day national consultation workshop held in Kasungu from 16-17 November 2015 under the “Strengthening School Food & Nutrition Programs in Africa,” a South-South Cooperation project.
The national stakeholders’ consultative workshop is one of the preliminary tasks being done with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Government of Brazil to initiate the review of the nutrition education curricula.
The project is currently supporting the Government of Malawi in the review of the national School, Health and Nutrition Strategic Plan by promoting an integrated approach where school meals procured from family famers, nutrition education & school gardens are combined in a cohesive effort to promote healthy life-long eating habits.
Nutrition as a fundamental crosscutting issue
Welcoming the participants, the Acting Deputy Director for the Department of School Health, Nutrition, HIV and AIDS (SHNHA) Ms Virginia Kachigunda highlighted the importance of nutrition as a crosscutting issue of fundamental significance for diverse sectors such as health, agriculture & education.
In her opening remarks, the Chief Director for the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Ms Thoko Banda highlighted the Cost of Hunger (COHA) in Malawi 2015 report which includes undernutrition as one of the major underlying causes of poverty.
“Nutrition is central to the achievement of quality education, and teachers should be well equipped to offer nutrition education” she said.
FAO’s School, Food and Nutrition specialist, Dr Andrea PoloGalante, called on participants to ensure that nutrition education focuses more on food and eating well.
“Junk-food is cheaper, more appealing, highly advertised and affects not only children but also the teachers,” she said.
About the project
In order to strengthen School Nutrition, the Malawi Government, the Brazilian government and FAO signed a trilateral agreement based on South-South principles. The Project: “Strengthening School Nutrition Programmes in Africa” has three main components including review of the School Health and Nutrition strategy, Nutrition Education and integration of Nutrition Education and School Gardens. The Ministry of Education Science and Technology (MoEST) through its Department of School Health, Nutrition, HIV and AIDS (SHNHA), is responsible for leading the implementation of the project in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development and Ministry of Health through the Department of Nutrition, HIV & AIDS (DNHA) is a cooperating partner. The project runs for 18 months from July 2015 to December 2016.
Related Links:
- Improving School Nutrition to bolster learners’ performance and future families
- Participatory nutrition education catalyst for dietary diversity
Contact:
Mike Chipalasa | Communications Officer - FAO Malawi | Tel. (+265) 888 715 385 | Email - [email protected]