KUALA TERENGGANU: Two teachers at SK Manir have developed a digital application, the “Sihat, Aktif Manirian” (SAM) programme to encourage healthy living among pupils, following growing concern over the increasing number of overweight children and their love for sweet food.
The initiative has earned SK Manir the AIA Outstanding Active Lifestyles Award 2026, worth US$15,000 (RM61,200), at the Asia Pacific-level AIA Healthiest Schools Competition held in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 8.
The application was developed in early January by Science teacher Zuraidah Hassim, 45, and English teacher Najjah Salaamah Jusoh, 37, after the school found that some pupils were physically inactive, frequently consumed sugary food and drinks, and did not consistently practise a healthy lifestyle.
Zuraidah said the school had introduced various initiatives, including aerobics sessions, installing water dispensers to encourage pupils to drink plain water, promoting the consumption of prebiotic drinks and working with Health Clinics to educate pupils on healthy eating.
“However, we did not want these practices to stop at school. We wanted the healthy lifestyle culture to continue at home as well.
“So, Najjah Salaamah and I developed the SAM application as a platform to educate pupils while recording their daily healthy lifestyle habits,” she told Bernama yesterday.
Through the application, pupils record their daily intake of plain water and healthy food, as well as the duration of their physical activities.
“To encourage participation, we incorporated gamification elements. Pupils who achieve certain targets receive badges such as ‘Water King’, ‘Nutrition King’ and ‘Active Hero’,” she said.
Zuraidah said the application currently involves about 300 Year Four, Five and Six pupils.
She added that the school planned to develop the application into a mobile app that would be available on the Google Play Store in future to broaden its usage.
