Barbados is intensifying its national campaign to promote healthier dietary habits in schools through a comprehensive teacher training initiative. Deputy Chief Education Officer Julia Beckles emphasized that sustained commitment and unwavering consistency are crucial for achieving lasting change in student nutrition practices.
Speaking at the inaugural Barbados School Nutrition Policy (BSNP) Teachers’ Capacity Training Workshop held at Erdiston Teachers’ Training College, Beckles acknowledged preliminary progress in beverage reformulation while stressing the need for continued effort. “We have been able to make some gains there… Consistency is important, and therefore we want to ensure that we are not doing what is right only when someone is looking,” Beckles stated.
The education official issued a direct appeal to both school campaign coordinators and food vendors operating near educational institutions, urging them to “continue to do what is right in offering our students healthy alternatives” despite potential challenges or reduced oversight.
Approximately 130 educators representing nursery, primary, secondary, and private institutions participated in the specialized workshop designed to support nationwide implementation of the nutrition policy. The training program forms part of a broader governmental strategy to cultivate healthier school environments, enhance policy execution mechanisms, and develop institutional capacity throughout Barbados’ education system.
Curriculum modules addressed multiple facets of school nutrition improvement, including techniques for creating supportive food environments, integrating nutrition education into standard curricula, ensuring policy compliance, and developing collaborative strategies to reinforce healthy eating behaviors among students.
Beckles commended participating educators for their dedication to the nutrition policy’s successful implementation, recognizing their frontline role in shaping the dietary habits of Barbados’ youth population.