The government has updated measures to ensure the overall health of students, building on the removal of soft drinks from schools in 2017.
The Stronger Nutritional Standards for Schools partnership between the Ministries of Education and Health will see more than 800 government and government-assisted schools implement stronger nutritional guidelines.
It affects what can be sold and served within schools and will see a reduction in sugary drinks or snacks and salty and fried foods, promoting balanced meals and also ensuring portion control to address childhood obesity.
Health Minister Dr. Lackram Bodoe referenced the recently completed Healthy Schools TT Survey, which revealed that food choices are placing our nation’s children at risk.
“This study has revealed alarmingly that many students continue to consume foods and drinks high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats. Fruit and vegetable intake remains below the recommended levels, and a concerning number of children are already showing early risk factors for obesity, hypertension, and other Non-Communicable Diseases.”
Education Minister Dr. Michael Dowlath explained the initiative will be carried out in four phases.
The first phase will see all nutritional standards, including menus, sample menus and training materials, sent to schools, while the fourth phase will see a review of the data collected over this academic year and an expansion of the programme to private schools.
“In the second phase, which will go through this second term and third term of the academic year 2025-2026, there will be pilot implementation in school clusters, there’ll be intensive monitoring, training of vendors, and adjustment of school menus. In the third phase, which will begin in the Term 1 of the next academic year, 2026–2027, there’ll be full mandatory implementation across all government and government-assisted schools, supported by publication of a list of school-approved snacks.”
Minister Dowlath urged parents to assist in the effective roll-out of the programme.
“Let me be very clear: this initiative does not dictate what happens in homes. It ensures that while children are in our care, the school environment supports healthy choices. We ask parents to partner with us by reinforcing positive habits, supporting schools during the transition, and to engage constructively with our school administrator, principal and school leaders, because sustainable change happens when families and schools move in the same direction.”
As the Education Ministry strives to build on measures like the removal of soft drinks from schools in 2017, Dr. Dowlath emphasised the intervention will support improved classroom focus, overall physical and mental wellbeing of students.
The measures being implemented are in line with what is being suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO).