Equatorial Guinea does not have a national school meal programme.
Education on health and nutrition aspects is integrated as part of the subject of natural sciences.
School Food
As of 2022, there is no national school meal programme in the country. In the majority of schools, children either bring foods prepared from their homes, purchase meals and snack foods from the vicinity, often prepared and sold by community members or do not consume foods during school hours. Canteens function in a minimum of schools, mostly privately managed.
There are no nutrition guidelines or standards that define or regulate the types of foods that are sold and prepared in and around schools in Equatorial Guinea.
School-Based Food and Nutrition Education
In Equatorial Guinea, food and nutrition education is mostly integrated within the subject of natural sciences, which is available for all grades of primary and secondary schools. Key food and nutrition contents are integrated transversally through the pre-primary curriculum.
| Main targets |
|
| Main educators | Teachers |
| Integration within the school curriculum | Within the subject of natural sciences |
Development
The Ministry of Education develops the national curriculum which is operationalized through textbooks that integrate main objectives and learning plans for the various subjects, including the natural sciences, in which food and nutrition contents are integrated. Schools adapt such contents and learning plans according to their geographical contexts and food available and commonly consumed in the localities.
The whole curriculum, including the subject of natural sciences, is mandated to be revised every five to six years, but periods can be extended depending on resource availability.
Implementation
The main topics addressed in the food and nutrition component include:
- What foods are available in the different regions of the country
- How foods are obtained from different sources
- What to eat to be healthy
There have been a few extracurricular activities where food and nutrition education has been integrated, including experimental school gardens in a minority of schools and a TV programme that is aired outside of school hours.
There are no trainings specific for food and nutrition education for teachers, either pre-service or in-service.
Monitoring and Evaluation
There is no monitoring and evaluation plan specific for school food and nutrition education in the country. The food and nutrition contents are assessed as part of the subject of the natural sciences, mostly through written exams that assess knowledge.
Relevant Links
Photos
Articles
Alimentación no sólo es comer, sino comer saludable
14/06/2019
"Yo creo que se tiene que potenciar mucho más la alimentación, porque a través de ella, se protege la salud de los niños. Cuando un niño se siente bien, sano, fuerte y con bienestar, éste puede estudiar, desarrollarse y buscar su futuro" aseguró Leyre Andrea Boleka, niña de 17 años. Ella recomienda a los padres que no sólo coman sus hijos, sino que coman bien y saludable.