The challenges and quality of school feeding

The challenges and the quality of school feeding | Picture taken from eldiario.com.co

The food that is supplied to students, both in public and private schools, has always generated controversy in the country, especially due to aspects such as their nutritional value, quantities, among other aspects.

Constant are the complaints of students, teachers, administrators and parents for school feeding in Colombia. Added to this are the scandals that have surrounded the School Feeding Program (PAE) in different regions of the country.

It is important to mention that in the 14 municipalities of Risaralda there have been no cases of corruption or serious situations with respect to the PAE, but there have been several disagreements due to the quality of the food in some cases, and in others due to the quantity of the rations that they receive. supply.

It must be remembered that in Risaralda there are about 70,000 food rations that are delivered this year through the PAE, approximately 28,100 in the 12 uncertified municipalities, about 26,000 in Pereira and almost 16,000 in Dosquebradas.

In order to know and evaluate the coverage and quality of school meals in public and private educational centers, a study was carried out by the Centro Nacional de Consultoría (CNC), whose results were socialized by Red PaPaz.

In this exercise carried out through a survey carried out in the second semester of 2022 to 1,047 teachers and rectors of educational centers in Antioquia, the Coffee Region, Bogotá and cities in the central east, south west, Caribbean and national territories. Of these, 65% are public venues and 35% private. Additionally, 34% are located in rural areas and 66% in urban areas.

The positive and to improve

The report mentions that the personnel in charge of food delivery provide a quality service. Students have access to fresh, hot food.

With the delivery of food prepared on site, the excess intake of ingredients such as sodium, trans fats, sugars, harmful to health, is controlled. Among the challenges of school feeding is the issue of contracting services, which presents delays, which is why students do not receive food during the first month of each semester.

Little variety prevails in what is offered to girls, boys and adolescents. In Risaralda the menus have been improving and thus offer more variety in food.

The size of the portions that are delivered of each food are very small, in fact, the institutions or families complement them with their own resources.

Food has long commutes from purchase to delivery. This compromises the state in which they are received (deterioration or expiration). This is another aspect that the department has been working on. In recent years, several spaces have been put into operation for the preparation of food on site and thus avoid the transfer of food from the production plant.

Another challenge in this matter is to strengthen public services in school kitchens in order to improve food preservation processes, especially in rural areas.

Likewise, guarantee equipment elements (kitchens, tableware, utensils), since they are currently being managed by the communities.

Requests to the Government

The teachers and rectors who participated in the survey made some recommendations to the national government to increase the quality of school feeding. For example, they point out that public services in school kitchens should be strengthened in order to improve food preservation processes, especially in rural areas.

Likewise, guarantee equipment elements (kitchens, tableware, utensils), since they are currently being managed by the communities.

They request to improve the internal and external logistical conditions for the effective and quality delivery of food.

They alert the government to regulate the availability of ultra-processed products in schools, due to their low nutritional value and their expiration status.

Carolina Piñeros, executive director of Red PaPaz, considers that the Government must advance in the creation of healthy food environments in educational institutions, official and unofficial, and early childhood care services. "We are in arrears to restrict the delivery of ultra-processed edible and drinkable products in the PAE, achieving the inclusion of real and natural foods prepared on site and culturally relevant, to help girls, boys and adolescents receive adequate nutrition that contributes to their integral development".

Article taken from eldiario.com.co

By: El Diario

https://www.eldiario.com.co/noticias/risaralda/los-retos-y-la-calidad-de-la-alimentacion-escolar/

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