Assessing The Status of Canteen Management in The Pagsanjan Public Elementary Schools Based on Standards

Authors

  • Marites Avila

Keywords:

Canteen Management, Food Safety

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Schools are directed to oversee the daily nutritional needs of its students and faculty through the service of school canteens. There is an undeniable occurrence of reported incidents of food poisoning among local school canteens over the years. These reported conditions were due to the lack of information and compliance on food service standards. In many Philippine schools, the standards on sanitation, safety, and food service remain unchecked. For this reason, the researcher finds it imperative to determine the status of the eleven (11) public elementary school in Pagsanjan District as prescribed in Department of Education Order No. 8, s. 2007 (Operation and Management of Canteen in Public Schools). The study is undertaken with great urgency in order to correct, improve and further develop the school canteen standards for the maximum benefit of its local communities.

METHODS

This study used the descriptive method of research utilizing questionnaires, interviews, and observation as the tool in data gathering. The respondents of this study were one hundred fifty-four (154) teachers and two hundred seventy-two (272) Grade VI elementary pupils of the eleven public elementary schools in the Pagsanjan District.

RESULTS

Based on the findings of the study, the status of canteen management in the eleven (11) public elementary schools in Pagsanjan District is in good quality. However, the canteen managers assigned are not graduates of HE/TLE degree programs. The income utilization is not allotted properly to what it was intended due to over expenditure of the school. Canteen building structure was not suitable due to limited space and lack of exit doors. Majority of school canteens had no sanitary permits but were still operating. Canteen personnel did not undergo trainings or seminars on food safety.

DISCUSSIONS

It is recommended that the eleven (11) elementary schools in Pagsanjan District should: (1) Seek sponsorship from local or private sector for the improvement of its canteen facilities; (2) Request the Public Health Officer to train canteen personnel in food safety; (3) Seek the help of an architect and the Municipal Engineer for the proposal of a separate budget for canteen facility based on the standard layout; (4) Propose a request to the principal coordinator on information and communications technology (ICT) to launch training for canteen managers on basic auditing and accounting with the use of MSExcel; (5.) Implement and adopt the suggested action plan to improve the status of canteen management in Pagsanjan District; (6) Provide Trainings for canteen managers pertaining to the operation and management of school canteen to enhance their skills in canteen supervision; and (7) Conduct similar studies to further improve canteen management.

Published

2019-01-18