The Baracaro Primary and Nursery Schools are benefitting from key government initiatives, including the school feeding programme and expanded access to teacher training to improve education and support communities.
Acting Headmistress of the primary school, Lalitha France, said the learning facility, which has an enrolment of 105 pupils, now prepares meals for approximately 150 persons. The undertaking now serves pupils from the nursery level and teachers.
She explained that the breakfast and lunch programmes have been making a significant difference for families in the community.
“The breakfast programme is very good, because in the morning parents don’t have to wake up and prepare meals for the children. When they reach the school, they leave their bags and go to the kitchen for their breakfast,” France said.
She added that pupils also receive lunch with juice, including locally prepared fruit juices and coconut water.
The school’s kitchen also supports local economic activity by purchasing some supplies from residents. The chicken is sourced from poultry farmers within the village, with the school rotating among three suppliers each week.
Locally available produce, including coconut, cherries, pineapples, and other seasonal fruits, is also purchased from residents and used in meal preparation.
The nursery school, which accommodates 33 pupils, will soon receive its own kitchen
Meanwhile, Baracaro Primary School is also benefitting from opportunities for teachers to pursue training while remaining in their communities.
France said the school currently has four trained teachers, three teachers in their final year of college, and two teachers in their first year of training.
The initiative is helps to strengthen education delivery in hinterland communities by ensuring teachers can continue serving their villages while advancing their professional development.