Bandar Seri Begawan - The first edition of a guideline book, which focusses on a programme to enhance the quality of food and drink preparation for colleges and schools canteen, is set to be released here in Brunei in the near future.

The publication of the book, which will be used as research material for schools, reflects the efforts being made to enhance the level of commitment among society, particularly school community, towards matters pertaining to cleanliness and canteen management system.

This was yesterday pointed out by Acting Director General of Education Pg Hajah Sarah binti Pg Haji Kamaludin, as she delivered a speech on behalf of Deputy Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) at the Ministry of Education Awangku Abdullah bin Pg Haji Tengah, during the launching of the guideline book, which played out at the Rizqun International Hotel in Gadong.

Acting on behalf of the deputy permanent secretary, Pg Hajah Sarah later went on to congratulate all parties concerned, including the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and Ministry of Religious Affairs, for establishing the Programme Working Committee whose commitment will greatly benefit school children in Brunei.

She said, the programme focuses not only on the quality of the canteen preparation, but also the cleanliness, health and safety of the school community in general. It is hoped the programme will instil good values and at the same time cultivate a culture of consuming balanced meals.

The programme also hopes to change the mindset of all parties, creating a generation that craves healthy food, and thus reducing the likelihood of them becoming obese, and suffering heart diseases, high blood pressure and diabetes.

In Brunei, the issue of being overweight is at serious level. Statistics from a school healthy inspection programme showed that among Year 1, 4, 6 and 8 students, the obesity level stood at 13.5 per cent, while the overweight level stood at 14.8%, figures that are increasing annually.

Earlier, Haji Kassim bin Mohammad Yassin, the Acting Director of Schools, Schools Department, Ministry of Education, in his welcoming speech said the objective of the programme is to enhance the culture of consuming healthy food and enhance the responsibility of school canteen operators in offering healthier options, therefore creating students that are healthy both mentally and physically.