After the success of its ten previous editions, the nutritional education programme "Sehaty fi taghdiyaty" will extend this year over a whole week. To this end, the Minister of National Education, Mohamed El Ouafa, presided on Tuesday 12 March in Asilah over the launch ceremony of this national nutrition week, in the presence of the acting Wali of the Tangier-Tetouan region, Mohamed Yacoubi, the president of the town's municipal council, Mohamed Benaissa, as well as the main actors of this project. "We have chosen for the launch of this eleventh edition the old Moha Ali Marzouk primary school, which was built in 1942. This school, which constitutes the memory of the town, has just been rehabilitated. We must provide even more efforts, although the cost is high, to do the same for the old school establishments where the great personalities and leaders of our country studied," indicated Mr. El Ouafa.

Let us underline that the "Sehaty fi taghdiyaty" programme was launched for the first time on 28 May 2003, following a partnership agreement between the Ministry of National Education and Centrale Laitière. In addition to public establishments, this programme, which this year benefits more than 4 million pupils across the Kingdom, "integrates private primary education establishments for the first time," affirmed Mr. El Ouafa, noting that this year's programme is also distinguished by the integration of preschool as well as the addition of cleanliness to the theme of nutritional education.

According to those responsible for this programme, "Sehaty fi taghdiyaty" has evolved as it has expanded to different levels of primary education. "The programme evolves every year. We went from 675,000 pupils sensitised in 2003 to more than 4 million in 2013. The subjects addressed are linked to the theme of nutrition and treated according to the pupils' capacity for understanding and assimilation. And the last year of primary education is devoted to the general revision of everything that has been learned before," specified Asmaa Belkeziz, Director of Institutional Relations and Communication at Centrale Laitière.

By integrating preschool into the 2013 programme, those responsible for "Sehaty fi taghdiyaty" proceeded to develop a new educational kit, designed and made available to children at this school level, in order to introduce them early to the food families that make up the food pyramid. And thanks to the involvement and mobilisation of some 155,481 teachers, lessons are given throughout the week to pupils who absorb nutritional messages from educational materials adapted to each of the seven levels of primary education.