SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMS IN MALAYSIA

AINAN NASRINA ISMAIL

NUTRITION DIVISION
MINISTRY OF HEALTH MALAYSIA

Southeast Asia Nutrition Goes to School (NGTS)

Webinar Series
21st October 2020
Presentation Outline
1. Malaysia at a glance
2. National education system
3. Nutrition issues: school children
4. School-based food and nutrition policy
5. School feeding in Malaysia
6. School feeding and Covid-19 pandemic
7. Lessons learned from the school feeding
programs
8. Take-home messages
 01
MALAYSIA AT A
GLANCE
Population in 2019 is estimated at 32.6
million with the annual population
growth rate at 0.6 %
4
 02
NATIONAL
EDUCATION
SYSTEM
 Number of Government & Government-Aided Schools
Preschool Primary Secondary Total
16,406 7,779 2,439 10,218
Source : National Information System for Pre-school (SMPK-Data as 31st Jan 2020)
Aplikasi Pangkalan Data Murid (APDM-Data as 31st Jan 2020)
KEMAS (Data as at Nov 2019)
Kementerian Perpaduan (Data as at February 2020)
 03
NUTRITION
ISSUES: SCHOOL
CHILDREN
 Double Burden of Malnutrition

29.9 %
1 in 3 (29.8%)
Overweight & obese Micronutrient deficiency-Anemia
among women at reproductive age
NHMS 2017
NHMS 2019

21.8%
Children under 5 years of
age are stunted
NHMS 2019
Skipping meals

70% of the school

children skipped
breakfast
regularly
75%
50% of the school
children skipped
lunch

50% of the
school children
skipped dinner

NHMS 2017
 04
SCHOOL-BASED
FOOD AND
NUTRITION POLICY
National Policy
The National Nutrition Policy of
Malaysia endeavours to achieve and
maintain the nutritional well-being of
the population.

The policy integrates and synergises

the efforts of relevant stakeholders in
planning, implementing and evaluating
nutrition programmes. These were
translated to the National Plan of
Action for Nutrition in Malaysia.

11
 TOWARDS ACHIEVING OPTIMAL NUTRITIONAL
Goal WELL-BEING OF MALAYSIANS

Objectives
To enhance To reduce diet-related
To strengthen
nutritional status non-communicable
food and nutrition
diseases (NCDs)
security

Promoting maternal, infant and young child nutrition

Promoting healthy eating and active living

Enabling Preventing and controlling nutritional deficiencies
Strategies
Preventing and controlling obesity and other diet related NCD

Sustaining food systems for healthy diets

Supporting efforts to promote food safety and quality

Strengthening
Continuous Strengthening Ensuring sufficient
Facilitating Providing standard assessment and food and nutrition numbers of qualified
institutional and
community
Strategies nutrition guidelines
for targeted groups
monitoring of the research and nutritionist and
capacity for
nutrition situation development dietitians
nutrition

Foundation Incorporating nutrition objectives, considerations and components

strategies
into national development policies and action plans
School-based Nutrition Program in
Malaysia
• Nutrition promotion
• Kitchen garden (currently
carried out in KEMAS
kindergartens)
• Integration of nutrition
component in curriculum
• Nutritional consultancy
• (e.g development of
• standard menus)
• Training on healthy eating
to teachers & food handlers
• Integration of nutrition
component in teachers
curriculum
• Empowerment of parents
on healthy eating
• Nutrition promotion (including
nutrition component in
cocuriculum)
• Monitoring on sale of foods and
drinks at school canteen
• Healthy School Meal Programme
(HiTS)
• Nutritional consultancy e.g
(Supplementary Feeding Program;
RMT, School Milk Program)
Primary • Integration of nutrition
Preschool school component into the curriculum
children • Monitoring on nutritional status of
children the students
(4-6 y.o) • Monitoring on micronutrient of
(7-12 y.o) the students
• Nutrition promotion
School Secondary • Monitoring on sale of foods
communities school and drinks at school canteen
• Development of standard
children menu of boarding school and
(13-17 y.o) monitoring of compliance
• Integration of nutrition
component into the curriculum
• Monitoring on nutritional
status of the students
• Nutritional consultancy
13
05 SCHOOL FEEDING
IN MALAYSIA
Standard menus for preschool
children

Based on budget Average cost: Subsidised by the

allocation determined Government
by preschool institutions Peninsular Malaysia- RM2.00-
– MOE, KEMAS, Ministry 2.85 (USD0.48)/children
of Integration
(government preschools Sabah, Sarawak, Labuan -
institution). RM2.25-3.10 (USD0.75)
 Healthy School Canteen

10 Policy Options to - Ban of unhealthy foods

Published in 2011 by
Combat Obesity in and drinks in the school
MOE
Malaysia 2016-2018 canteen.
- 3 categories of food &
- Ban sales of food and -Outlined only 2
drinks listed in the guide
beverages that are not categories i.e foods &
i.e foods & drinks that
encouraged to be sold in drinks that are allowed
are allowed, not
school canteen and not allowed to be
encouraged and not
sold.
allowed to be sold.

More fruit options

Continous monitoring and guidance by nutritionists

2018 2019
(coverage monitoring- new (school coverage new schools +
schools) schools with low score)
70.8 % 59.8%
2018 2019
Compliance Compliance
More selection of healthier drinks e.g fruit
28.6% 43.1% juices, plain water
 School meal programs (RMT and PSS)

1976 1979
1983
1974 School Milk
▪ Piloted in Hulu RMT was initiated The program Program was
in conjunction with
Langat district
a pilot project of
was extended in launched.
under Applied the National AFNP every state in 1995
Food and under the Prime Malaysia under
Nutrition Minister’s the MOE. Expanded
Program Department. nationwide.
(AFNP).

▪ Extended in
all district in
Selangor.
 Supplementary Feeding Program
(Rancangan Makanan Tambahan, RMT)
• Objective:
To improve health and nutritional status of school
children, especially those from hardcore poor family,
through a provision of a wholesome and balance
meal.
• Target group:
Primary school children from hard-core
poor family. Recipients of RMT also
include children with special needs and
school children from Orang Asli/
Penan’s schools.

• Cost: Subsidised by the

Government
Peninsular Malaysia- RM2.50
(USD0.60)/ children
Sabah, Sarawak & Labuan–RM3.00
(USD0.72)/ children
• The meals provide about 25-30% from
calorie requirements of the primary
school children.
• There are 20 options of menus. The
school administrator will select 5
menus/ week alternately. The
selection are based on the
availability of foods (including local
produce) and children’s
preferences.
School Milk Program (Program Susu Sekolah)

• Objective:
To improve health and nutritional status of the school
children for optimal their physical growth while
encourage milk consumption since young.

• Target group:
Primary schoolchildren from primary
school children from poor and hard-
core family. Recipients of PSS also
include children with special needs
and school children from Orang Asli/
Penan’s schools.
• Provision of 2 boxes (200ml) of
chocolate flavoured UHT milk twice a
week. Milk should be consumed at
schools under the supervision of
teacher
• Average cost: Subsidised by
the Government.
RM2.80-3.60
(USD0.34-0.43)/ children.
 Healthy School Meal Program
(Program Hidangan Berkhasiat di Sekolah, HiTS)

• An initiative to educate on healthy eating in schools.

• Enrolment into the program is on voluntary basis and funded by

parents. Average cost RM2.00-3.00 (USD0.48-0.72)/ children.

• A healthy meal package 25-30% from calorie and nutrient requirements

of the school children and served during recess time.
• There are 4 cycles of nutritious meals.

• The concept was first introduced in 2007 in SJKC Chin

Kwang Wahyu, Muar, Johor and piloted in 2013 in SK
Setiawangsa, Kuala Lumpur.

Implementation of
HiTS SJK (C) Chin
Kwang Wahyu
 HiTS Implementation Throughout Malaysia

3 schools; Kulim & Kota Setar

4 schools; Seberang Perai

Tengah, Seberang Perai 2 school; Setiu
Utara & Barat Daya
1 school; Kota
Samarahan

1 school; Pengkalan Hulu

3 schools;
Cyberjaya,
Selayang & Hulu
Selangor 4 schools; KL
3 schools; Putrajaya

3 schools; Seremban &

Rantau 11 states, 62 schools with
1 school; Durian
11,909 beneficiaries
Tunggal 37 schools; di
Johor Bahru, Batu As at March 2020
Pahat, Muar &
Tangkak
23
Standard Menus in Boarding Schools

• The Government of Malaysia provides 3 main

meals and 2 snacks.

• The menus take into consideration the average

calorie and nutrient requirement of a primary/
secondary school children.

• The menus developed are inline with National Agrofood

Policy in supporting local produces (fruits and vegetables and
fresh water fish).

• The standard menus are part of procurement contract.

Average cost: RM14-20 (USD3.38-4.82)/day/schoolchildren.
 06
SCHOOL FEEDING
AND COVID-19
PANDEMIC
 1. Daily schools

Guides for school administrators/ teachers/

canteen operators
• Eating in class during recess time under the SCHOOL
REOPENING
supervision of class teacher. Desk arrangement - MANAGEMENT
1 meter distanced. GUIDELINE
• Provide packed foods to the school children. Pre-
order foods are recommended. A reference for school
• Foods served to the children should comply to administrators, teachers
School Canteen Guidelines. and parents pertaining to
• Ensure hand hygiene among school children, school re-open.
teachers and school staffs.

Guides for parents

• Ensure their children to have breakfast.
• Provide bento (including plain water) to children.
 Supplementary Feeding Program (RMT)

Modification on the operation of RMT:

• RMT served during recess time and

eat in class under the supervision of
class teacher.

• RMT is in-school meal program.

•In occurrence of school disclosure

due to Covid-19, the school children
are unable to receive RMT.
2. Boarding schools

Guides for school administrator/

teachers/ canteen operators

• Ensure school children have their

meals under the supervision of
teacher.

• Ensure the cleanliness of the

dining hall and comply to the
guidelines on food preparation.
3. Private education institutions

These schools are encouraged to refer to the guideline.

Guides for school administrator/ teachers/ canteen operators

and parents
• Eating in class during recess time under the supervision of
class teacher. Desk arrangement - 1 meter distance.
• Provide packed foods to the school children.
• Foods prepared should comply to School Canteen Guidelines.
• Ensure hand hygiene among school children, teachers and
school staffs.
• Advisable to review school fees including school meal.

Guides for parents

• Ensure their children to have breakfast.
• Provide bento (including plain water) to children.
 07
LESSON LEARNED
FROM SCHOOL
FEEDING
PROGRAM
7LESSONS LEARNED
from school feeding program
Protect children Improve nutrition of
Build local economy
from unhealthy the school children,
and create job
in terms of quality
environment opportunities
and quantity

Provide learning
Contribute to
experiences thus
countries’ social
motivate on healthy
protection system
eating

Offer new School feeding

knowledge and comes with a
skills cost.
TAKE-HOME • Schools offer an opportunity

MESSAGES to improve nutritional status

of the school children.

• Schools as a food system has

a great potential to improve
nutrition. School feeding
integrate with other
nutrition interventions have
possible nutrition outcomes
to the school children, their
families, teachers, and
school communities.

• Stakeholders should be well

informed and
encouraged to play their
roles to create a supportive
environment towards
healthy eating.
Thank you.
Terima kasih!

• 603-8892 4519
• ainan_nasrina@moh.gov.my
• http://nutrition.moh.gov.my
• Fb: Bahagian Pemakanan, KKM
• Ig: Bahagian Pemakanan, KKM