[Kurukshetra August 2023 Summary] Nutrition and Health in School Education: Explained, pointwise

Introduction

Good nutrition and health in school education lay the foundation for learning and are an essential investment in the future for children. These can help to improve education outcomes, empower the learners to succeed, and promote inclusion and equity in education and health. Numerous studies have highlighted the significant connection between health and education. Good health and nutrition are essential to maximising educational potential.

Status of Health and Nutrition in Schools

Global research has demonstrated the detrimental effect of malnutrition on cognitive development, and on the overall productivity and economic development of a country.

Globally, 90% of countries have some form of school health and nutrition programs as a prevalent approach to delivering health and social protection. According to research, the first 1,000 days of life is a critical window for child development. However, for early gains to be sustained and children to achieve their full potential, it is essential to support their health, nutrition, and development during the next 7,000 days of life, throughout middle childhood and adolescence.

The essential elements of the Global School health and nutrition include:

1. Policies and laws that provide an enabling environment at national, subnational, and school levels.
2. Education for health and well-being delivered through skills-based school curricula and extracurricular activities.
3. A school physical and socio-emotional environment that is safe, inclusive, and conducive to health, well-being, and learning.
4. School health and nutrition services and school feeding programmes that provide simple, safe and effective health interventions, and healthy school meals.

The recently released report ‘Ready to learn and thrive’ highlights the significant impact and high returns of investments in school health and nutrition programmes. It urges governments to expand their initiatives to deliver a comprehensive and inclusive range of interventions. The major findings of the report are:

1. 9 in 10 countries in the world currently implement School Health and Nutrition programmes.
2. 3 in 5 countries include food and nutrition
3. More than 100 countries have school-based vaccination programmes.
4. 9 in 10 countries include physical education as a compulsory school curriculum subject.
5. 80% of countries now have a school feeding policy.
6. Nearly half of all children enrolled in primary schools receive school meals.

India has seen progress in child nutrition indicators but faces ongoing challenges. The National Family Health Survey-5 shows improvements in stunting (low height for age) (38.4% to 35.5%), wasting (low weight for height) (21.0% to 19.3%), and underweight (low weight for age) (35.8% to 32.1%) among children under 5. These issues reflect the issue of chronic under nutrition, and are linked to poverty, maternal health, and inappropriate early-life care, hindering children’s physical and cognitive development.

Policy Perspective on Health and Nutrition in Schools

Governments have realised that school health and nutrition initiatives are wise investments. They improve students’ health, nutrition, and learning outcomes while also significantly advancing their communities and countries. The pandemic has highlighted the critical role that schools play in the physical and mental health, nutrition, and well-being of children and adolescents.

Addressing health and education together underlines all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG 3 is related to good health and wellbeing while SDG 4 is related to quality education. The National Health Policy (NHP) 2017 also envisages the attainment of the highest possible level of health and well-being for all ages and places greater emphasis on investment in school health.

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 integrates education and health by acknowledging the necessity of nutrition and regular exercise for effective learning. This includes regular health check-ups in schools, especially for 100% immunisation, and health monitoring through health cards. NEP has also recommended the provision of early childhood care and education to children below 5 years of age in preparatory classes in primary schools, and extends the mid-day meal programme to these students. Further, NEP recommended the provision of breakfast for school children in addition to mid-day meals.

Initiatives Undertaken in India

Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN): India’s PM POSHAN (earlier mid-day meal programme) is rights based Centrally Sponsored Schemes under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA). Around 12 crore children studying in 10.84 lakh schools in all Government and Government-aided schools have been covered. The objectives of the scheme are to address hunger and education by:

1. Improving the nutritional status of children studying in Bal Vatika and classes I – VIII in Government and Government-aided schools and Special Training Centres (STCs).
2. Encouraging poor children, belonging to disadvantaged sections, to attend school more regularly and help them concentrate on classroom activities.
3. Providing nutritional support to children of elementary stage in drought affected areas during summer vacation and during disaster times.

Regular health checkup of children under Rashtriya Bal Swastha Karyakram has been conducted. Deworming medicine and Iron & Folic Acid (IFA) tablets are also provided to children. Evidence suggest that apart from enhancing school attendance and child nutrition, this scheme plays a very important role in fostering social values and equality.

School Health and Wellness Programme: The School Health Programme under AYUSHMAN BHARAT is envisaged to facilitate an integrated approach to health programming and more effective learning at the school level.

Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0: It is an integrated nutrition support scheme. The programme aims to address the issues of malnutrition in children, adolescent girls, and pregnant women. The schemes of Anganwadi Services, Scheme for Adolescent Girls, and Poshan Abhiyan have been realigned under the scheme to maximise nutritional outcomes. It has been organised to address three primary verticals: (1) nutritional support for women, children, and adolescent girls, (ii) early childhood care and education (3-6 years), and (iii) Anganwadi infrastructure including modernisation.

The services are currently being provided through 12.72 lakh Anganwadi Workers and 11.69 lakh Anganwadi Helpers to 951.35 lakh beneficiaries, of which 770.98 lakh are children under six and 180.37 lakh are pregnant women & lactating mothers. An ICT-enabled platform named Poshan tracker has also been designed for monitoring of Anganwadi Services.

POSHAN Abhiyaan: The overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment named ‘POSHAN Abhiyan’ (Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition) aims to reduce malnutrition in the country with an aim to achieve improvement in nutritional status of Children aged 0-6 years, adolescent Girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers in a time bound manner.

Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi: Centre’s flagship programme ‘Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi’ will focus on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) covering 13 lakh Anganwadis across the country. The aim is to make Anganwadi centres both nutrition hubs and education-imparting centres. The objective of this programme is to ensure holistic development of children under the age of 6 years, with focus on building skills in key development domains identified under NEP.

Way Ahead

Children are integral to a nation’s future, and their health forms the bedrock of society. Schools play a pivotal role in fostering physical, emotional, and social development. School health and nutrition initiatives bolster vulnerable children, enhancing community human capital. Well-nourished students perform better, ensuring optimal learning and achieve their potential in life. Integrating health and nutrition interventions in education drives lasting growth, demanding collaborative, streamlined efforts for holistic child well-being.