DUSHANBE, May 21, 2015, Asia-Plus -- Tajikistan has launched the country’s first-ever competency centre to promote school feeding in one of eight pilot schools, as part of a program supported by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).

According to WFP Country Office in Dushanbe, Tajik Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Fathiddin Ismonov, and Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan Igor Lyakin-Frolov inaugurated the Center of Competency for School Feeding at School No 3 in Norak City on May 19.

WFP, one of the key partners of Tajikistan’s School Feeding Program, and representatives of local government also attended the inauguration.  School No 3 is one of eight pilot schools in Norak and Ayni which were chosen as models for the implementation of school feeding programs.

Last year, the school’s kitchen and canteen were renovated with the support of parents and the local community.  New furniture and equipment were provided by WFP in a bid to improve hygiene and efficiency.   Experts revised school menus to reflect local eating habits and to make meals more nutritious.   School cooks and managers also received additional training on food preparation, cooking and sanitary requirements.

Children and parents at the school reportedly took part in an awareness campaign to promote healthy eating habits and hygiene.

“School No 3 has played a central role in this process.  It will become a resource center for the program, providing support and educational materials, as well as organizing workshops and training for schools throughout the country” said Nicolas Oberlin, WFP’s Representative in Tajikistan.

School meals help children to concentrate in class and act as an incentive to encourage poor households to send children, especially girls, to school and keep them there.

Following the Government’s decision to endorse a national school feeding policy in February, capacity-building activities, including Centers of Competency, have become a major component of Tajikistan’s School Feeding Program.  Activities are being spearheaded by an inter-ministerial council led by the First Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection, Lola Bobohojiyeva.

The Russian Federation is the largest donor to Tajikistan’s School Feeding Program, which provides daily meals to 360,000 schoolchildren and their teachers in more than 2,000 schools across the country.