A STUDY OF THE SCHOOL MEAL VENDORS TRAINING PROGRAMME AND ITS IMPACT ON THE SCHOOL MEAL SERVICES IN IBADAN

Abstract

A major aim of the school meal programme is to provide 1/3 of the child’s daily nutritional requirement.To this end a school meal vendors' training programme is held twice or thrice in the year, at the Jericho and Onireke Health centres, Ibadan. The training focus on hygiene, cookery and nutrition. Personal hygiene, food hygiene, environmental sanitation, selection preparation. Serving and benefits of some of the local foods form the programme content. Various methods are applied in imparting knowledge and Influencing attitudes, beliefs, values, skills and practices of the trainees, toward the school meal programme nutrition and hygiene. There is significant increase in the vendors' knowledge level after training, as is evident in their knowledge scores on the administered questionnaires. Practicing school meal vendors were observed at work and a questionnaire administered. For a better performance by the meal vendors and fuller participation by the pupils, teachers and home economists need to be involved in the vendors’ training programme and more teachers to participate in their role as meal supervisors in the schools. Such an integrated approach will enhance the growth and improvement of the school meal services in Ibadan.