Malnutrition among schoolkids will be a priority, says Fadhlina

KUALA LUMPUR: Priority will be given to addressing malnutrition caused by poverty among school children, says the Education Minister.

Fadhlina Sidek said malnutrition could affect the core of children’s physical and cognitive growth.

“It is the hope of the ministry, and in the national budget projections, that aspects of nutrition and healthy eating for children becomes a priority in the construction of Malaysia Madani,” she said in a Facebook post yesterday, Bernama reported.

As such, she said the ministry had always strived to improve the Supplementary Meal Plan (RMT) programme from time to time.

Fadhlina also posted about her visit to SK Sungai Serai in Hulu Langat, Selangor, to check on the RMT menu prepared by the school canteen.

On calls by the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) Peninsular Malaysia’s to postpone the use of the Identity Management System (IDME), Fadhlina said education officers would be sent to assist teachers in the smooth implementation of the system.

She said an engagement session with teacher representatives was held at the ministry on Friday to discuss the matter and problems faced by teachers.

“I have directed for the system to be suspended so that everyone can calm down while we think of the next step.

“We will announce the new measures on Monday,” she told reporters after opening the Preschool Talent Festival 2023 in Seremban, Negri Sembilan, yesterday.

The IDME, developed by the Education Ministry, allows educators to fill out the Final Academic Session (UASA) and classroom assessment, among other tasks, but NUTP said the system was not stable, and that it was not viable yet to fill in the UASA scores.