Dear Editor,
It is very good that the Education Ministry is launching its “National Breakfast Programme”. This is a great move and I hope that she will be well-supported, especially by those who have to actually be involved at the level of distribution, right down to the school level, where the children will be the beneficiary.
This starting move from the Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, will see the provision of a “… a daily meal to Grade Six students along the coastal regions: Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10.” Let us remember that beginning at the McKenzie Primary School (as part of the Ministry of Education’s activities to observe Education Month 2022), will eventually culminate nation-wide.
I inform the few who are giving all kinds of spin to this venture that there is an abundance of research showing that eating breakfast is linked to healthy body weight, improved academic performance and memory functioning, and increased school attendance. It is well established that students who have access to a school breakfast programme have reduced risk for disease, are more likely to come to school and participate in class, have better test scores, and are more likely to graduate.
But I need not refer to scientific evidence, as teachers are the first to tell us of the difference they see when students start their day with a healthy breakfast. Students are more alert, are better able to pay attention and process information, and show improved memory and problem-solving skills. Schools with programmes report better attendance and less disciplinary interventions, in the classroom or in the school yard. So, the Minister is right on track with contemporary educational strategies and theories.
In fact, Minister Manickchand, while delivering her feature address, explained that “… the programme was not implemented because the Ministry believes parents cannot provide breakfast for their children…” instead, “We believe many can. But we also know a lot of children come to school without breakfast.” On this point I add that many come to school without breakfast, as they are ‘in a rush’ and they are aware of what the school vendors have. Some simply are not ‘very early’ morning eaters, and so the programme is quite handy. Thus, I agree with the Education Minister “… that it is the State’s duty to help children as far as finances allow.” Already thousands of children are the direct beneficiaries of the Government’s $25,000 “Because We Care” cash grant and $5000 uniform voucher.
Editor, on this note of placing emphasis on education, especially in terms of making school life easier for the students, the Government, this year alone, is expending some $267 million on this vital National Breakfast Programme for every Grade Six child on the coast. Let us bear in mind that children living in the hinterland regions are already benefitting from a separate feeding programme.
Finally, in terms of ‘reaping rewards for the input,’ the record is there to show how well Guyana is doing regionally, as just last year, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) in announcing its top awardees for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations highlighted that Guyanese students received the top awards for both. It should be noted that these achievements were particularly outstanding as they manifested that the students were able to perform “exceptionally well” despite the COVID-19 pandemic challenges that were ongoing at the time.
Yours truly,
H Singh
