Queen honours schools for promoting health-conscious practices

AMMAN — Her Majesty Queen Rania on Tuesday honoured 67 schools as recipients of the Healthy Schools National Accreditation for the academic year 2015-2016. 

Under the patronage of Her Majesty, the Royal Health Awareness Society (RHAS) held an interactive two-day workshop at Al Bayader Secondary Vocational School for Girls to publically recognise the past academic year’s accredited schools. 

The project aims to foster health conscious environments within Jordanian schools by ensuring their adherence to national health standards, according to a statement from Her Majesty’s office. 

In the presence of the Health Minister Mahmoud Sheyyab and Education Minister Omar Razzaz, the Queen congratulated the accredited schools, commending their efforts in elevating their students’ well-being and positively impacting their home and learning environments. 

Her Majesty said the programme’s success has been a collaborative effort resting on several parties, including, schools, parents, the local community, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and RHAS. 

She also underlined the importance of continuously reviving these accomplishments and enlarging the circle of success to encompass a greater number of participating schools. 

The Queen commenced her visit with a stop at a healthy food preparation station headed by Chef Jamie Oliver’s super ambassador, Chef Mira Jarrar. Her Majesty observed Chef Jarrar introduce the girls to basic healthy food preparation methods and arbitrate a friendly competition between them. 

The school’s teachers were invited to join Her Majesty in a brief and informal discussion on the necessity of promoting healthier practices within Jordanian schools, voicing their support of RHAS’ accreditation programme and the benefits reaped as a result.

Parents and guardians also partook in a separate discussion with the Queen. 

A number of member-parents of the school’s health committee highlighted their roles in advocating the programme’s objectives and complementing the school’s efforts by maintaining similar health standards at home. 

RHAS Director General Hanin Odeh delivered remarks followed by a video reflecting on the programme’s interactive workshop that was held at the school. 

Attendees — including teachers, local community members and school staff — were given the opportunity to share their personal experiences with the programme, and encourage others present to consider adopting its practices. 

The Healthy Schools National Accreditation programme was first implemented by RHAS in 2008, in partnership with the ministries of health and education. 

Depending on their overall accreditation scores and the duration of their participation in the programme, schools are recognised as recipients of either the bronze, silver or gold levels of accreditation. 

Of the 67 schools that were honoured on Tuesday, eight received the gold accreditation, 19 received the silver accreditation and 40 received the bronze accreditation.