OBJECTIVES OF THE LUNCH PROGRAMME IN THE PRIMARY SCHOOL
The school lunch programme occupies an important place in the overall educational structure. Since its aim is to furnish nutritionally adequate meals to children in the school, in order they can be healthy, well nourished and vigorous and grow up to their full stature physically, mentally and socially, it makes a distinctive contribution to the nation's development. Besides supplying the nutritional needs and laying the foundation for health the school lunch, as an integral part of the health programme, can fulfill some of the educational goals in the school curriculum. It can serve as a medium for nutrition education of the pupils and parents towards the proper selection and provision of inexpensive, nourishing and attractive meals suited to needs. The school lunch room is a laboratory, where the teacher can evaluate the adequacy of her teaching health and nutrition.
The important objectives of the lunch programme in the primary school are to:
1. Promote the growth and health of children by providing an adequate meal in the school which will meet atleast one third of the daily requirement of calories and nutrients.
2. Enable children attend the primary school regularly.
3. Increase the enrolment in the primary schools.
4. Prevent drop-outs from the primary schools.
5. Help children understand the relationship between good food, health and happy life.
6. Increase the ability of children to study well and retain the lessons in memory.
7. Give opportunities to children for social interaction with each other, ignoring differences due to caste and creed and share the same food with all, in a clean and cheerful setting.
8. Inculcate good food habits in children.
15
16
9. Teach children simple activities such as cutting vegetables, cleaning the utensils, cleaning and arranging the dining place and serving food in a clean and pleasant manner.
10. Impart knowledge of nutrition along with serving nutritious meal.
11. Help children disseminate nutritional information to their families.
12. Stress the importance of a pleasant atmosphere during meal time, to enhance the appetite, intake and digestion of food.
13. Inculcate in pupils good manners, sociability and consideration for others, and
14. Develop in children habits of sanitary handling of food
A school lunch programme which functions with these objectives can form a strong base for the improvement of health and growth of the younger generation. The school lunch programme is one of the best means to educate the young minds. The values of affection, self- reliance, getting along well with others, self-satisfaction and good character can be inculcated in children through their participation in the school lunch programme.
References: 1. Devadas, Rajammal, P., Chandrasekhar, U. and Yesodha, T.Scope for nutrition education in a primary school lunch programme and curriculum. Ind. F Nutr. Diet., 1974, 11, pp. 321-327.
2. Ghufran, B. Child Welfare in the making. Social Welfare, 1963, 9, pp. 9-10.
3. Jacobson, W.L., Boyd, F.L. and Hill, M.M., Promising practices in nutrition education in the elementary school. Teacher's college. Columbia University, 1959. pp. 7-15).
4. Ministry of Health. Report of the School Health Committee Part I. New Delhi, 1961. p. 29.
5. Planning Commission. Draft Sixth Five Year Plan 1978-83. Government of India, New Delhi.
6. Rau, P. The midday meal programme. Nutrition, 1973, 12, pp. 14- 19.