Doha, Qatar: With the start of the new academic year fast approaching, the Ministry of Municipality has shared a set of guidelines aimed at promoting a safe, healthy and sustainable school environment for students.
The Ministry advised students and families to follow safe and healthy food preparation practices when preparing meals for school, including:
- Store food safely and choose foods that can withstand the heat.
- Prepare the meal in the morning rather than the night before, and use a clean and safe lunch box.
- Save water by using a reusable water bottle.
- Include a variety of fruits, vegetables, protein sources and whole grains.
- Prepare an appropriate portion size to help reduce food waste.
The Ministry also stressed the importance of properly disposing of food and other waste in the designated bins. It advised students to:
- Place recyclable materials in the designated blue bin, including paper, plastic, glass and metal cans.
- Do not mix recyclable materials with food waste.
- Place general waste in the grey bin.
- Sort waste at the source to help keep the school clean and sustainable.
The Ministry also encouraged students to play an active role in creating a green and sustainable school environment through the following practices:
- Take part in planting trees and seedlings inside and around the school.
- Care for plants and water them with the appropriate amount of water without wasting it.
- Protect green spaces and planting beds, and avoid damaging the plants.
- Help keep the soil and areas surrounding plants clean and free of waste.
The Ministry also highlighted its efforts to ensure a safe school environment through regular inspections of food offered in school canteens. These inspections aim to identify violations and reduce potential health risks.
- Inspectors ensure that food offered in school canteens is safe and fit for consumption.
- They monitor the cleanliness of food preparation, storage and preservation areas.
- They verify compliance with health requirements and general hygiene standards within school facilities.
