Cascade Primary & Infant School lauded for full compliance with National School Nutrition Policy and Standards

Cascade Primary & Infant School in Buff Bay Valley, Western Portland is the first school in Jamaica to achieve 100 percent compliance in the implementation of the National School Nutrition Policy and Standards.

The school was on Thursday recognised for achieving the highest level of readiness for implementation of the policy.

Minister of Health & Wellness Dr. Christopher Tufton, speaking at a ceremony at the institution, said school administrators have demonstrated that it is possible to give children good nutrition while they are in school.

That distinction, he said, warranted his presence, “because over a one year period, we inspected 202 schools, with the Ministry of Education. And Cascade, Primary & Infant School, here in the Hills of Portland, is the number one school that has complied 100% with feeding their children, a balanced meal, cutting off a sugary drink, giving them a fruit day, and doing it in a community-based way with parents and teachers and teachers.”

That, he declared, “deserves celebration, but it also deserves promotion.” 

Cabinet approval

The nutrition policy, approved by Cabinet last year, is a comprehensive, multi-sectoral framework that lays out clear principles and actions to promote healthy eating and active living in all Jamaican schools.

The Ministry of Education, with support from the Ministry of Health & Wellness, has the mandate to ensure that proper nutrition is established within public schools.

Rhoda Moy Crawford, Minister of State for Education, in her address at the function, said the  ministry, its agencies and schools are becoming more intentional about encouraging healthier choices among students.

She said the ministry is moving swiftly to implement the National School Nutrition Policy in schools across the island.

“We're paying more attention on reducing unhealthy food and drink options, and promoting balanced meals. So what we're also doing, in our schools, we're promoting the drinking of more water. There are some schools already that is (sic) promoting what they call water day, so on that day, no juice is allowed in the schools. Of course, we're now promoting more physical activities; we’re also speaking to our little ones. They are not too young to understand. We're teaching them about healthier choices.”