THE Department of Education in Region 10 has already commenced the replacement of boxed fruit juice and biscuit supply to nursery, primary and secondary schools, with hot meals prepared with fresh ingredients produced right in the communities. The move is not only a gravitation towards healthier consumption, but is responsible for the creation of employment.

Farmers residing within the communities are expected to be some of the main beneficiaries since they will be supplying the fruits and vegetables. Region Ten Regional Executive Officer (REO) Orrin Gordon noted, that complaints have surfaced about the quality of the juice that are supplied to schools, and so the project is aimed at ensuring that the children get the best nutritionally.

“We are moving away from that and moving in the direction where we produce hot meals directly from the produce that is right there,” he said.

The project was piloted in the far-flung community of Rock Stone and has since commenced in the mining community of Coomacka, and is supplied to students attending school in Linden but who reside in the farming community of Dallawalla, located some miles up the Demerara River.

The project is a replica of the David G’s Five B’s project that is currently carried out in Kwakwani and other communities across the country.

Gordon noted that the plan is to have it replicated in the rest of the region, especially in the communities located in Sub Region Two, such as those located along the Berbice River. “We want to replicate this to the rest of the sub region because we are getting a lot of complaints about the juice and biscuit,” he noted.

While the Department of Education Region 10 is awaiting permission for the project to be expanded from the Ministry of Education, Gordon noted that the RDC is currently undergoing feasibilities to ensure that all systems are in place for the effective delivery of the hot meal project.

Newly-appointed Regional Education Officer (REDO) Rabindra Singh, said that he believes that the project is the best way forward and will be giving it his support. He noted that the creation of employment aspect is what is most admirable about the project. “You have to have a head cook, treasurer and these people will be paid… we will be utilising the raw produce from the various communities, it is something that I am trying to see how we can replace the juice and biscuit,” he said.

Regional Chairman Renis Morian said he is looking forward for a report on the way forward at the next RDC statutory meeting.

Previously, Gordon had also related to this publication, that he would have also put systems in place for the supply of less tin and processed foods at the dormitories in the region, and to be replaced with fresh foods.