National School Nutrition Policy.

The main goal of the present National School Nutrition Policy is to improve the nutritional well-being of school children in Seychelles through a school environment conducive to healthy eating. In particular, the objectives are to: a) implement nutrition education from crèche through to secondary schools as part of a sequential comprehensive school curriculum; b) harmonize the school’s food provision and environment with nutrition education in the curriculum; c) build the capacity of staff involved in nutrition education and provision in the principles of healthy eating; d) involve the Parent’s Teachers Association and the community in supporting and reinforcing nutrition education and e) provide a tool to ensure the school’s compliance to promoting healthy eating.
The outcomes are defined as follows: a) Integration of nutrition education that is in line with the Seychelles Dietary Guidelines in a sequential and comprehensive school curriculum; b) Improved school’s food provision and environment that is harmonized with nutrition education in the curriculum; c) Staff involved in nutrition education and provision trained on the principles of healthy eating; d) Nutrition education supported and reinforced by the Parent’s Teachers Association and the community; e) Tool to ensure the school’s compliance to promoting healthy eating; f) Increase in nutrition-related activities at school level; g) Reduction in diet-related problems amongst school children (dental caries, obesity); h) Advertisement/promotion of food or drink in accordance with the Seychelles Dietary Guidelines.
Chapter 3 on Current School Nutrition Environment contains a section on fundraising activities which should be done through organizing sale of food. In such instances, foods of various nutritional values are sold as no guidelines or protocols exist in relation to these activities. Likewise no guidelines or protocols exist for controlling advertising and marketing of foods in schools.
Chapter 4 on Policy Framework contains a section of food safety establishing that it is important that environmental conditions in schools ensure a safe food supply. Such conditions are supported by sufficient treated water, safe means of water disposal, safe foods and ingredients, adequate food contact surfaces, good personal hygiene, cleanliness, tidiness and adequate ventilation. Rules and regulations for food safety are needed to minimize the risk of contamination and food-borne infection. Applying rules for safe food preparation is also essential for students, teachers and service providers.
Chapter 5 on Coordination and Monitoring suggests that the key to real improvement is the day-to-day implementation of the whole policy. To ensure that the policy is implemented successfully, schools will need to be regularly guided, monitored and evaluated through various multi-sectoral bodies which would include a National School Nutrition Committee which should be multi-sectoral in nature and should aggressively enforce the policy. Also a School Nutrition Action Groups should be set up which shall set up targets to improve the progress of policy implementation.
The text consists of 6 chapters as follows: Introduction (1); Rationale for a School Nutrition Policy (2); Current School Nutrition Environment (3); Policy Framework (4); Coordination and Monitoring (5); Implementation (6). Three Annexes are enclosed.