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Staff Reporter
Learners of Kamagugu Primary School in the Mpumalanga Province commemorated Nelson Mandela International Day by taking part in a fun walk. They received prizes for their creative artwork submitted during the 2022/2023 World School Milk Day Recycling Art Challenge.
The Challenge was introduced to the Basic Education Sector in the previous financial year as part of the World School Milk Day (WSMD) annual celebration.
The Challenge has assisted the sector in raising awareness of the importance of dairy in children’s development. The 2022/23 Challenge included build-up classroom activities such as the recycling art challenge competition linked to nutrition education in Life Orientation.
As part of the project, learners were required to produce art using dairy containers. Winning nominees were nominated through the assistance of Provincial Education Departments (PEDs).
Director for the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), Neo Sediti, said that the Challenge targeted all primary schools (Quintile 1-5), as well as special schools to ensure inclusivity.
“Educators selected participating learners and grouped them according to grades to create artistic pieces from recycled dairy packaging materials after lessons about the importance of milk and dairy were presented to them. Entrants competed in three categories: Grades R to 2 for dairy animals (cows, sheep, goats); Grades 3 to 4 for self or landscape portraits (collage and/or mosaic); and Grades 5 to 7 for fashion (outfit and accessories). Approximately 37 nominations were submitted on 14 October 2022, and the DBE subsequently identified Kamagugu Primary School as the overall winner.”
The initiative was a collaboration between the DBE and the Consumer Education Project (CEP) of Milk South Africa, as one of the NSNP partners.
“The challenge was a response to the global Climate Change and Environmental Health Rights agenda by involving learners in the General Education and Training (GET) band. The 2023 WSMD was celebrated under the theme, “Dairy gives you Go for a healthy me and environment,” Ms Sediti added.
Deputy Minister Mhaule said that the main objective of the NSNP was to promote healthy eating among learners.
“The meals provided at schools are intended to provide nutrition and energy for mental and physical activities for the body and brain to function optimally, making learners alert and receptive during lessons. This also helps in improving the quality of learning. Whilst learners are provided with nutritious meals, they are also taught to establish and maintain healthy eating and lifestyle habits through Nutrition Education.
“The frequent promotion of healthy eating is critical in curbing obesity in children. The provision of milk to schools will also assist in promoting balanced diets to learners. Milk is vital in growth and development, immunity, healthy bones, skin and nerves. There are several other benefits from milk than just building strong bones; milk products such as cheese, butter, cottage cheese and flavoured milk are both delicious and healthy. Milk consumption is essential to maintaining good health and is a great source of calcium for all ages. We salute our partners for their continued support in strengthening the NSNP in the sector.”
INSIDE EDUCATION