BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (June 21, 2010) -- The Federal Ministry of Education is welcoming the latest co-operation between the School Feeding Programme at Needsmust and the government and people of the Republic of China on Taiwan that will provide school children with fresh fruits and fruit juices as part of a programme aimed at enhancing the children’s nutrient intake.
The Ministry is supportive of such exercises, said Senior Education Officer, Michael Blake, who spoke at the Dr William Connor Primary School in Basseterre on Friday where officials of the Taiwan Technical Mission on St. Kitts and Nevis, provided carambola (star apple or five finger) fruits, carambola juice, dried carambola and carambola jam to students of the school.
“The Ministry is very happy that the Embassy of the Republic of China on Taiwan is coming on board in another of its many different ways that it came to help us in this country in various areas, and particularly in education,” commented Blake. “The Ministry of Education is supportive of anything that is designed to improve the wellbeing of you our students.”
The senior education officer observed that the government makes sure that all students get an opportunity to receive quality education every year, and the cost involved is quite high. In that case the government is happy when other persons, groups, and other countries help it to provide education.
He said that the government and people of the Republic of China on Taiwan are one of the best groups of people that are helping the St. Kitts and Nevis government and people to ensure that the Federation’s children get the education they deserve. On behalf of the Ministry of Education he expressed gratitude to the Taiwanese for the continued support to the ministry.
“Not only has the embassy provided buildings and furniture, just earlier this week your principal (Anthony Wiltshire) received over 50 computers from the Republic of China on Taiwan,” pointed out Blake. “They have gone further and are now assisting us by ensuring that you get good things in your body.
“You cannot have a healthy mind if your body is not healthy. So we want to make sure that you have healthy minds in healthy bodies. At the school, Mr Wiltshire and his staff are responsible for ensuring that you have healthy minds by being taught the correct things in the correct way at the correct time. Here now we have the Embassy of the Republic of China on Taiwan coming on board to ensure that you have a healthy body.”
Leading the Taiwanese team, which included the First Secretary, Taiwan Embassy in St. Kitts and Nevis, Hans Chu Yu Chang, was agro-processing specialist Anling Lee, who said that cognizant of the fact that children are the future, the programme was initiated to provide them with healthy food and at the same time to teach them the importance of having balanced diets which is important for growing minds.
“The programme actually started at the end of 2008,” said Lee. “Initially, the agro-processing unit of the Taiwan Mission provided dried fruits for four different schools. Then in the following year, we expanded the project (and) we provided fresh star fruit juice for every student. This year we are going to continue to provide fresh fruit and juice for every student. We plan to provide once per term, the time and amount of fruit will depend on the fruit production in Needsmust Farm.”
She observed that the school meals centre provides lunch for around 5000 students every day. However, due to the limited capacity of agro-processing unit and fruit production, she said that they would not be able to provide juice or fruit for all the students at one time, and as a result, will be provided on a rotational basis.
According to Anling Lee, the most prolific fruit in Needsmust Farm is the star fruit which under favourable conditions is harvested the year round. She described it as being a ‘super fruit’ which is rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, and low in sugar, sodium and acid. Through processing, they make juice, dried fruit, and jam.
“In this stage, we provide juice or fruit to the school meals centre,” said Lee. “We hope in the near future we can produce enough dried fruit for every student. Eating fresh fruit and drinking fresh juice is very healthy for the body. Consequently, I would like to encourage the students to eat the fruit and drink the juice as a means to achieve a balanced diet.”
School principal, Anthony Wiltshire, who said that the students had at times complained of being offered the same kind of juices over and over, told them that the Taiwanese Mission had given them an opportunity for a different drink, which he hoped would add to the nutritional benefit of children, not only at Dr William Connor but throughout all the schools in St. Kitts and Nevis that are engaged in the school meals programme.
Eugene Heyliger, supervisor at the School Meals Centre, thanked the Taiwanese mission for the support it has given over the years to the Ministry of Education and by extension the School Meals Programme.
“We are grateful for the fruits as well as the drinks which they have supplied on several occasions,” said Heyliger. “It (carambola) is very nutritious and is part of food supplement for the kids. Stay away from bad eating habits and continue to enjoy the fruits and the drinks and jams which are on display today.”
