Response to Written Question PT3

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📖 Reading time: 4 minutes
📊 Word count: 668 words

YANG BERHORMAT AWANG ZAINOL BIN HAJI MOHAMED

QUESTION:

YANG BERHORMAT AWANG ZAINOL BIN HAJI MOHAMED requests the MINISTER OF EDUCATION to state the results of the study on the effects of nutrition on the academic performance and health of students. To what extent can the School Meal Program address malnutrition issues, ensure healthy physical development, and support the holistic well-being of students in the long term.

YANG BERHORMAT MINISTER OF EDUCATION

RESPONSE:

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful Yang Berhormat Pehin Yang Di-Pertua, Your Honourable Members,

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh and greetings of peace.

First and foremost, I would like to express my highest appreciation and gratitude to Yang Berhormat Pehin Yang Di-Pertua for the opportunity given to answer the written question PT3 that has been posed.

The Ministry of Education is very concerned about the well-being and health of students, especially in providing food facilities. The Ministry of Education has implemented several School Meal Programs such as the School Feeding Scheme (RPS), the Program Harapan and Anak Harapan. This effort is similar to the commitments made by foreign countries like Finland and Singapore that emphasize the provision of food facilities because they believe that providing these facilities will ensure that each student receives sufficient nutrition for growth, well-being, and optimal learning.

The Ministry of Education has not yet been able to prove the effects or impact of food facilities on academic performance due to the many other factors involved in student academic achievement, such as intervention programs, learning support programs, the strengthening of learning methods, and various other initiatives implemented in schools, including other factors like the availability of educational resources and the quality of teachers.

However, a study by the Ministry of Education found that through the provision of food facilities under the Program Harapan and Anak Harapan, 20 out of 25 schools in 2024 were able to increase student attendance and achieved an attendance rate of 90% or more (2 secondary schools, 18 primary schools). Meanwhile, 17 out of 19 Anak Harapan schools achieved an attendance rate of 90% or more.

Research conducted by the Ministry of Education through focus group discussion studies with students and teachers in several schools under the Program Harapan found that the provision of food facilities somewhat reduced the problems of students who frequently complained of gastric pain due to morning hunger. This shows that access to food can help student health and fitness.

To ensure that students receive healthy and balanced food facilities, the Ministry of Health has provided guidelines called the "Guidelines for the Sale & Presentation of Healthy Food and Drinks in Schools," issued in 2018, which emphasize meal portion sizes and healthy food preparation methods. The use of these guidelines aligns with the Multi-sectoral Taskforce For Health's efforts led by the Ministry of Health as a "Whole of Nation" approach, specifically under the focus area "Giving Every Child The Best Start In Life," aimed at improving student health. The Ministry of Education supports this initiative through the supply of food under the School Feeding Scheme, Program Harapan, Anak Harapan, and monitoring the food sold in school canteens by adhering to the guidelines set by the Ministry of Health.

To ensure the safety of food facilities from any hazards like poisoning that could cause health complications for students, the Ministry of Education has also established the "Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Food Poisoning in Government Schools Across Brunei Darussalam" (MOE, 2021).

In addition to these guidelines, the Ministry of Education will always ensure that the companies or vendors selected are truly qualified and comply with the food preparation regulations set by the Ministry.

Inshaa Allah, the Ministry of Education will continue monitoring to ensure the effective implementation of the school meal program, and the regulations in providing food facilities are orderly and adhered to. All of this is intended to ensure that students have access to healthy and balanced nutrition, which will aid in their physical development and support their holistic well-being and health in the long term.