Czech Schools Get Healthier

It’s the first day of school today in the Czech Republic, and students can expect to find fewer fatty foods in the cafeteria

Dave Park

Written by Dave Park Published on 01.09.2016 11:50:39 (updated on 01.09.2016) Reading time: 1 minute

Last year, the Czech Ministry of Education passed a decree that was intended to remove junk food from school cafeterias and vending machines.

But some debate over what, exactly, was considered to be junk food meant that the unhealthy food has continued to be served in schools across the country.

Now, however, the Ministry and Czech schools have reached an agreement, reports Aktuálně.cz.

From September 1, schools will have three months to stop selling cola and other sugary drinks, candy bars and high-sugar sweets, sandwiches with high-fat mayo, unhealthy sausages, French fries, and other foods high in fat and/or sugar.

“We need to ensure a high quality of chefs in cafeterias as well as quality recipes so that children have a balanced diet,” Education Minister Kateřina Valachová told Hospodářské noviny.

“We cannot think of anything better for a child’s health than a balanced diet at school canteens as well as sufficient movement in leisure time activities.”

The Ministry also seeks to increase physical education programs, according to Valachová.

From September 2017, schools will make swimming lessons compulsory among their pupils. And free: each student will receive passes due to increased funding.

In other school-related news, a pay hike for public school teachers made a splash when Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka announced the news via Twitter in July.

FEATURED EMPLOYERS

Teachers are expected to receive a raise of between 1000 – 1500 CZK this year, and unions are pushing for an additional 15% annual increase each year until 2020.

Did you like this article?

Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more