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ABSTRACT
We investigated the nutrition education (NE) practices of teachers of grade 4‒7 learners in 11 primary schools (85% of total number) of the Bronkhorstspruit district (Gauteng Province) to identify opportunities for improving NE in these schools. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was carried out among a convenient sample of the teachers (N = 73) using a structured nutrition education practice questionnaire. Descriptive data analysis was done. Results showed that the majority of the teachers taught nutrition in about 10% to 20% of their teaching time. Thirty percent had no training to teach nutrition, and most teachers (86%) would like to receive training in nutrition. Teachers mostly taught nutrition as part of the curriculum (67%) and very few (18%) integrated nutrition into other subjects. Needing improvement were adequate classroom time for nutrition education delivery, continuing training in nutrition for teachers, and provision of up-to-date instructional materials for teaching nutrition.
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge the roles of the Department of Basic Education (DoBE) in granting permission to conduct the study, the principals and the teachers of the 11 schools for participating in the study, and Professor Piet Becker, PhD, of the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, for statistical analysis of data.
Funding
This study was funded by the University of Pretoria’s Strategic Institutional Research Theme through the Institute for Food, Nutrition and Wellbeing (IFNuW), the Nestle Nutrition Institute Africa (NNIA), and the Association of African Universities (AAU).