Schoolchildren get free fresh fruit once a week

g.borg

Jan 25th 2010, 11:41

This is so sad!!
Why were the children not given a FRESH fruit?
Why were they given “freshly-squeezed juice" in plastic containers with foil covers?
Will the cups be washed (waste of water and drainage) and recycled? …And the foil with its lovely logos and info printed on it; will the school be recycling those as well?
How much has all this cost the Maltese economy?
What a waste!
Who knows how fresh the juice was… was it squeezed an hour before… or a day before… refrigerated or preservatives put in?
I am sure that giving these children the 'freshly-squeezed juice' has cost Malta much more than simply giving them the fresh fruit they were promised! And the money would have gone to supply the kids with more fruit per week!

Marianna Galea Xuereb

Jan 25th 2010, 09:36

At my daughter’s (state) school juice was served and not fruit. My daughter said that she liked the fruit juice (she is used to having freshly squeezed orange juice complete with roughage at home) but reported that many of her friends did not. It seems that none of the teachers/Head teachers at her school were given the juice, which I think was not a good idea. I would prefer that the teachers be given the same fruit portion as the children and hopefully, the latter will make it a point to be seen to consume the fruit. We parents expect teachers to lead by example and the least the Education Department can do is provide fruit portions for teachers too. We pay more than enough of all manner of taxes for such a service. And we prefer our children to be served whole fruit rather than orange juice prepared hours before at God knows what establishment. Natural Vitamin C is known to be rapidly destroyed by exposure to light, heat and air.

Marianna Galea Xuereb

Jan 25th 2010, 09:36

There must be something very wrong with the way funds are allocated among ministries if the Education Department cannot afford to distribute fruit to all children/teachers on a daily basis, when so much money has been paid to designers to design new “College” school Uniforms and new coat of arms for the colleges. The Education Department itself – as well as all Ministries, including those for the Environment, Resources etc. - should lead by example by ensuring that funds are spent wisely and not squandered on frivolities. As the Maltese saying goes “L-ewwel il-pappa, imbaghad umpappa”

Marianna Galea Xuereb

Jan 25th 2010, 09:25

@ m.portelli

I totally agree.
To add insult to injury the only fair system of entry to a church school based on a child’s merit and capabilities - i.e the common entrance exam - is being done away with. If they really believe in social justice, what the Maltese Church Authorities should be doing is extending the common entrance examination facility to girls. But perversely and conversely, the totally unfair pot luck system is being expanded.
But at the end of the day - no matter how much of the tax payers’ money is diverted to church schools by the state - without rigorous common entrance examinations at age 10-12, Secondary church schools will sink to the same level as state run area secondary schools in which no streaming and setting are practiced.

C Sacco

Jan 22nd 2010, 22:46

@ C Cassar
@ A Calleja

Kindly be informed before making such comments. Malta is known as having one of the highest rates of obesity. Changing ones diet comes from education. Having a Government that takes steps in the right direction would help. This issue is not ONLY a Maltese one but a European one being implemented in many other EU countries.

Please read: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/markets/fruitveg/sfs/index_en.htm

Paul Smith

Jan 22nd 2010, 18:06

This is a really good step in the right direction, but why once a week? School chridren in the UK receive fresh fruit daily, they also receive a warm meal at school, for those who's parents are unfortunate to have lost a job due to recession, there kids enjoy a free warm school meal everyday. Those with children under 5 years on low incomes get vouchers weekly for free fruit milk and cheese. What on this earth could be more important than feeding the future?

Galea. L

Jan 22nd 2010, 17:58

A.Calleja Why did the Government who was implementing an eu project reduce the funds while it found no objecting to squandering money on celebrations just for upgrading a square?

victor pulis

Jan 22nd 2010, 15:41

@ C Micallef
May I put your concerned mind at rest that the fruit is being given to the children during break. Don't worry, teachers are doing their duty.

M Agius

Jan 22nd 2010, 15:39

@ C Micallef
Kindly note that 'break' time is there for the children not for the teachers, who have to spend it supervising the children, tying up shoe laces, mediating fights, and generally trying to keep all children from harm. More often than not the teachers' lunch goes back home with them. And yes, the fruit is distributed in class during the (teachers'?) 'break'. And by the way, it is now 15.38 and your comment is timed 4 hrs 29 minutes ago. Are you at work?

A.Calleja

Jan 22nd 2010, 15:29

OMG! I don't believe there are so many narrow minded or downright stupid people living around me on these islands!

Why don't you buy your children a daily supply of fruit to take to school with them? Has it just dawned on you that a balanced diet is of the utmost importance in the mental and physical development of your young children? Why should you depend on the Government to supply your own offspring with a daily staple of fruit?

If more parents take the initiative there will be more fruit to go around when the Government distributes its allotment. Or are those complaining just trying to get a better free ride?

Jew kollha mejta bil-guh jew tipprovaw toholqu plejtu min kull inizjattiva tajba tal-gvern minhabba pika politika. Tafu tisthu?!?!

Nathan Spiteri

Jan 22nd 2010, 14:28

There is a particular school in which children were given a cup of "orange juice". Do you know what orange juice they gave them? It is the same during flights and the same given to the public who attends a certain very famous tv program on Friday.

It is shameful!

We pay taxes so that our children receive wholistic education - and this is what we get back - this is how the govt fights obesity amongst our children (as far as I know we top the world's list in child obesity).

But you cannot expect better from this govt. As far as I am concerned, I pay taxes so that my father does his knee replacement. They have just called him (in December) so that he undergoes the first surgery next July. Know what? He has been on the waitlist since 2003! Now that's a service! In the meantime he has been buying calcium pills for 7 years. And since the last couple of years, his shins have bent in a very strange way.

Thanks mr Govt!

C Sacco

Jan 22nd 2010, 14:21

@ Paul Borg

You are absolutely right. In the eyes of all us adults, the children should have come first. Shame on them.

Chantelle Mifsud

Jan 22nd 2010, 14:19

paul borg . well said .

C Cassar

Jan 22nd 2010, 13:48

As usual, when the government takes an initiative, most criticise. The only people who should be severely criticised are the parents of the children who are not getting the correct diet in the first place. It is the sole responsibility of parents to provide their children with a nutritious diet which includes a MINIMUM of 5 portions of fruit & vegetables each day. Sadly, most parent either can't cook or can't be bothered to cook at home for their families. Instead they rely on take away food, pastizzi, pizza, burgers, sweets & cakes etc with the result so obvious to see all over Malta.

So, stop slating the government when it makes a very positive move for the young children of Malta and instead direct your anger at their lazy parents - they are the ones that are killing the next generation.

m.portelli

Jan 22nd 2010, 11:50

Is St. Monica's School the showcase 'state ' school? It is an unfortunate choice on Mr. Pullicino's part to choose a church school to launch this scheme. He blatantly reinforces the fact that state schools have not much to look forward to in the coming years, their share of state resources will be less than half the fruit on offer from the budget estimates for education. This photo opportunity coming after church authorities announced their plans to build more primary schools. The education division seems intent on relinquishing its involvement in state education yet funding from tax payers money the administration of Church schools who as everyone jolly well knows still receive money from parents' contributions. It is hypocrisy at its Maltese best. Subsidies are unfair in this sector too. State schools deserve a better deal than lip service and independent schools don't get a level playing field with church schools either. The commitment by the state to the Church school system at the expense of state education seriously puts into doubt its commitment to social justice. It also jeopardises choice for independent education. The alltime losers in this situation however are state schools and secular education. Shame!

Galea. L

Jan 22nd 2010, 11:43

Paul Borg
Excellent comments

Paul Borg

Jan 22nd 2010, 11:25

A nice intiative and most of all, yet another nice ministerial photo-opportunity. The minister said "They will be different every week. That way, it will not be boring," How can one serving (not even a whole fruit at times!) per week get be boring!

The original plan was to give children fruit every day, but it was cut back "To rein in the deficit" - TO REIN IN THE DEFICIT we cut back on fruit for the children??? How can they even say such a thing after the same ministry spent 142,000 euros on hollow fanfare for the opening of St George's Square, then they can't spend 73,916 Euros on providing fruit for our children.

Not to mention that we can spend about 50 million euros on a new parliament that no body wants, but can't afford to supply essential medical care like cancer treatment drugs.

This Government has got its values all wrong and is losing us PN supporters who put it there in the first place. For me, I am disgusted.

C Micallef

Jan 22nd 2010, 10:57

Schools have 2 breaks per day. I hope that this "fruit" is being served DURING break time and not ending as an additional break from lessons!