THE Department of Education (DepEd)-Central Luzon has announced the regional search for the Best School Implementer of the “Gulayan sa Paaralan” program (GPP) this October.
The DepEd-Central Luzon, in statement to SunStar Pampanga, said that the search aims to validate the implementation of the GPP relative to its objectives, to document best practices which can be shared to other implementers, and to recognize the efforts of best implementing schools.
The criteria to be used in the search include the number of vegetables planted in terms of square meters, presence of urban or containerized gardening, presence of school nursery or crop museum, adaptation of different strategies or technologies such as bio-intensive gardening, organic pest management, and organic fertilizer.
The regional search committee composed of the regional nutritionist as the chairperson, shall also validate reports regarding feeding program, accessibility and sufficiency of water supply, and other relevant activities such as waste management, and income generating projects.
The top three winners shall receive plaques of recognition and cash prizes worth P50,000, P30,000, and P20,000 respectively.
The deadline for the submission of entries is on October 26, 2018.
Last September 10 to 14, the DepEd, through its School Health Division (SHD) under the Bureau of Learner Support Services (BLSS), gathered its health personnel from all over the country for the National Capacity Building on the Integrated School Nutrition Model (ISNM).
The said training is a collaborative project of DepEd, the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction, and the Department of Science and Technology - Food and Nutrition Research Institute, the ISMN integrates nutrition interventions under DepEd’s School-Based Feeding Program, GPP, and Nutrition Education Program, to help improve the nutritional state of schoolchildren, and improve their knowledge and attitude towards nutrition and gardening.
DepEd has also issued the policy and guidelines on the Oplan Kalusugan sa DepEd through DepEd Order No. 28, 2018 dated July 6, 2018. The issuance includes the strategies and activities (management and institutional arrangements, planning and targeting, coordination with partners, orientation of personnel, conduct of the One Health Week, continuation of the health and nutrition services and activities, funding, reporting and recording, and monitoring and evaluation), roles and responsibilities of the field offices, and prohibited acts and undertakings.