Education
No More Junk Food in Schools?
Schools should have a ‘School Canteen Management Committee’, consisting of 7-10 members including teachers, parents, students and school canteen operators
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had recently instructed the schools against selling junk food in their canteens. Along with, the schools were instructed to remove any junk food selling kiosks within 200 meters of its vicnity.
Patliputra Sahodaya School Complex, Patna city, had in April 2015 also raised an issue about the same. C.B. Singh, secretary of the association, had said, “Instead of carbonated drinks, schools were advised to stock milk and fruit juices. Fast food or packaged food can be replaced with food freshly cooked before lunch breaks.”
He added, “We will shortly reissue the circular to schools, asking principals to ensure sale of healthy foods in canteens. They should also see to it that vendors selling 'golgappa', 'chaat' or other such snacks do not put up kiosks within 100 metres of the school gate.”
As per the letter issued by CBSE, schools should have a School Canteen Management Committee, consisting of 7-10 members including teachers, parents, students and school canteen operators, to look into food concerns and take care of given guidelines.
Apart from this, the board has also directed schools to conduct 40-45 minutes of physical activities for classes 1st to 10th on daily basis.
With the health of students and increasing obesity among students, the CBSE also asked to monitor the height, weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) for all the students. It has also instructed the schools to provide health-related counseling to both parents and students.
Image source: The Hindu