Fruits put up for sale at the school in Siem Reap. - supplied
PHNOM PENH (The Phnom Penh Post/Asia News Network): In the vibrant town of Siem Reap, a dedicated school food vendor is quenching thirst and nourishing bodies with natural, fresh fruit juices. Dispensing her vibrant concoctions to primary school pupils, she supports the education ministry’s crusade against six categories of harmful foodstuffs in educational establishments nationwide.
Chem Sarom, a 55-year-old mother who has served nourishing snacks at Krabei Riel Primary and Secondary School for almost a quarter of a century, affirmed: “I derive immense joy from this enterprise, rooted in my concern for the children’s wellbeing. By choosing fruit, they strengthen their health and protect their studies from the negative impact of less nutritious alternatives”.
Her food stall doesn’t only fund her children’s university education – her daughter is a teacher and her son studies hotel and hospitality management – but also forms a bulwark against unhealthy eating habits among young students. Sarom’s husband assists her in promoting this healthful lifestyle.
From dragon fruit to papaya, apples to honeydew melon, Sarom offers a variety of chemical-free fruits, along with sticky rice and other desserts.
More than merely a business, Sarom values her young customers’ health and wellbeing above all else. Students from the school and surrounding areas frequent her stall for these vitamin-packed delights.
“With health concerns in mind, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport has restricted the sale of damaging junk food. However, I have championed healthy eating for many years now,” Sarom expounded.
To uphold student health, Krabei Riel principal Toy Saro described the ministry’s policy forbidding the sale of six types of harmful food near schools. This list includes expired items, alcohol and tobacco, foods with ambiguous origin, sugary drinks and sweet treats, and an array of other unhealthy snacks.
Saro reported that, following the 2020 policy issuance, he organised consistent vendor meetings to ensure policy compliance. He expressed worry about outside vendors, but assured that the school gate stays locked during school hours to curb student access.
In his school of 794 students, comprising boys, girls and kindergarten pupils, Saro emphasised good hygiene practices and environmental cleanliness.
“While we strictly follow the ministry’s health guidelines within our premises, outside control over vendors is still a work in progress,” he acknowledged.
Ministry spokesman Ros Soveacha conveyed that the ministry has previously issued guidelines barring the sale of six food types in schools nationwide.
The ministry cooperates with school management committees to ensure guideline adherence, and school principals and vendors operate under a contract overseen by the school management. Any violation would result in administrative action and heightened focus on food safety practices.
Soveacha said the ministry remains devoted to the health of students and staff through mechanisms such as the school health department and disaster management working group.
“The food sale ban prevents food poisoning, and the ministry encourages careful food selection for health and intellectual growth”.
Soveacha stressed the importance of student health for academic success, urging teachers and administrators to stay vigilant. Health education has been integrated into the curriculum from kindergarten to grade 12, and school management has been encouraged to widely disseminate the guidelines. This ongoing endeavour, dating back to the previous mandate, aims to support student and educator health nationwide.
“Keeping a close eye on student health is pivotal for their academic achievement,” Soveacha reiterated, underlining the ministry’s long-standing commitment to nurturing a healthy learning environment.
Thus, from the food stalls of Siem Reap to the ministry’s guidelines, a concerted effort is underway to promote the health of Cambodian students. In this drive towards healthier lifestyles, vendors like Chem Sarom are an integral cog in the wheel, fostering wellbeing one fruit juice at a time.
