Teachers score top marks in nutrition and health

Teachers score top marks in nutrition and health

Teachers from across Northern Ireland are celebrating exam success after completing a Diploma in Nutrition and Health.

This week 14 teachers received their Diplomas at an event at Clotworthy House in Antrim.

The Public Health Agency (PHA), in partnership with the Food Standards Agency for Northern Ireland (FSANI), offered Home Economics teachers in Northern Ireland the opportunity to obtain the Royal Society for Public Health Diploma in Nutrition and Health.

Jennifer McBratney, the PHA’s Health and Social Wellbeing Senior Officer, said: “The Diploma aims to equip teachers with knowledge and understanding of the principles of good nutrition and healthy eating, and to ensure that they are able to apply these principles in a practical way when delivering the home economics curriculum. I would like to congratulate all those teachers who took part and worked hard to achieve the Diploma.”

The course, which was held over three months, covered a wide range of topics including the role and function of nutrients, dietary requirements for good health through all life stages, digestion, food labeling, food trends, food processing and the importance of nutrition in preventing and managing chronic illness.

Ruth Balmer from FSANI said: “I’m pleased to congratulate the teachers who approached this intense course with enthusiasm and dedication. I’m confident they now have the knowledge and skills to firmly place nutrition as the foundation in the delivery of the Home Economics syllabus.”

Notes to the editor

The Department of Education and Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety launched ‘Healthy Food for Healthy Outcomes: Food in Schools Policy’ in September 2013, which builds on the nutritional standards which were introduced in 2007 by the Department of Education.

The Food in Schools Policy encourages a ‘whole school approach’ to all food and drink provided and consumed within a school setting. This ensures that pupils have the opportunity to benefit from a healthy balanced diet and aids learning in the classroom, leading to improved educational outcomes.