Schools on Saba take steps towards a healthier lifestyle

Anton Hermans has been the administrator of primary and secondary education on Saba, one of the three Dutch Leeward Islands in the Caribbean, since 1 August 2022. Before that, he was director of the only secondary school on Saba for eight years. The primary school currently has 150 pupils and the secondary school has 114. Hermans came to Saba from the Netherlands in 2014 and has lived on the island ever since.

When Hermans arrived in 2014, the secondary school had an unhealthy cafeteria where a lot of fried food was sold. However, sports were regularly organised. Nevertheless, Hermans says: “I think that at the time, healthy food and a healthy lifestyle were not very high on the agenda. The main reason, in my view, was that the time was not yet ripe for introducing changes.”

From his time in Rotterdam, Hermans was familiar with the Healthy School quality mark. He was also involved in initiatives such as making fruit freely available at schools. “So I brought with me a feeling that a school should become healthier and greener.” Hermans remembers that discussions on Saba were not easy at first: “Often, people say that variety is the spice of life, but in this case it was not appreciated.” Hermans saw that the COVID pandemic accelerated change: “People suddenly started exercising more and in the schools, particularly in secondary education, we began selling more consciously in the cafeteria, which made it increasingly healthier. Major steps were also taken in primary education during that period. “I mean offering a healthy breakfast and extra fruit, and the realisation that healthy nutrients help get the engine in children’s heads started. And the reverse: the realisation that unhealthy food has a negative effect on children’s development and that too much sugar makes children bounce off the walls.”

Poverty

Hermans explains why it was not easy to get parents on board: “On Saba, 60 percent of residents live below the poverty line. People quickly cut back on food, and unfortunately unhealthy food is often cheaper.” In 2014, 2015 and 2016, the primary and secondary schools on Saba did receive the Opportunities for All Children grant, aimed at children growing up in a household with a low income. “With that funding, we focused on healthy breakfasts and making meals available throughout the day.” Hermans is convinced that parents do understand the importance of healthy food, but that they have to deal with the fact that vegetables and fruit are very expensive.

He also points to the role of the Public Entity of Saba, the municipality, with which JOGG collaborates: “They made an effort to use the BLOC test—a test consisting of four movement exercises—to map children’s healthy weight. In addition, they launched a programme, Cool2bFit, in which primary-school parents are actively involved so that they can share in their child’s lifestyle. Parents also receive information about their own role in this.”

The school deliberately organised things so that everyone can always drop by the primary school for breakfast to get sandwiches, and at the secondary school to get fruit. “This prevents stigmatisation.” Funding for a healthy school breakfast has now been secured. “Starting in January 2023, this will enable us to ensure that everyone receives a free healthy school snack.”

Every morning, fruit is available at the secondary school on Saba.

Exercise

In addition to nutrition, exercise is also important on Saba for a healthy lifestyle among pupils. “Primary education receives funding from the Physical Education Boost programme, which is used to get children moving more through additional physical education classes. There are also the regular sports days. In secondary education, an after-school programme has been launched with a strong emphasis on sport and exercise. This also includes e-sports, because not everyone is equally good at physical activity. The latter includes a certain dynamic whereby they have to step away from their screens after 30–45 minutes. This teaches them that gaming is not bad, but that gaming too much is.” The school also tries to encourage pupils to take part in sports activities organised on the island outside school. It is also looking into whether they can participate in competitions outside the island, including international ones. All of this is particularly important because, unlike in the Netherlands, children on Saba do not walk or cycle to school, as everyone is brought by bus.

The efforts are bearing fruit, according to Hermans. “The BLOC tests show that pupils, particularly in secondary education, are living healthier lives and exercising more effectively, and that average BMI is also declining. For me, however, the most important gain is that there seems to have been a change in mindset.”

Concerns

Looking at long-term health and health risks, he does mention one important point of concern: “You can see that vaping is on the rise. In addition, pupils, particularly in secondary education, regularly experiment with joints. In any case, the easy availability of drugs and alcohol on Saba worries me. Fortunately, the Public Entity does a great deal of educational work, often in consultation with the school. It also depends, of course, on enforcement and the attitude of parents. However, pupils and parents can never say that they were unaware of the dangers.”

In the coming years, JOGG—together with Saba, Bonaire and Sint Eustatius and the Healthy School—will work on the Healthy School approach on the islands. Initially, the focus will be on nutrition and exercise, but the Healthy School methodology in a broader sense also offers opportunities to address various other challenges, such as vaping.

In the coming years, as he continues the search for a healthy lifestyle, Hermans wants to try even harder to find the balance between too much and what is acceptable. He also wants to further increase awareness that food, exercise and the environment are interconnected. “In doing so, we strive to receive recognition as a school for making it possible for pupils to lead a healthy life.”

Presentation of Saba sports policy to State Secretary

On Monday afternoon, 19 December, Deputy for Sport and Public Health Rolando Wilson presented Saba’s new Sports Policy 2022–2025, which was developed in consultation with local stakeholders and recently published, to State Secretary Maarten van Ooijen of Health, Welfare and Sport. Wilson briefly explained how the Public Entity of Saba, with funding from the Dutch government, is working to promote sport and a healthy lifestyle among the Saba community.

In addition to promoting a healthy lifestyle, the policy focuses on using sport as a tool to teach life skills and encourage positive social interaction. The Sports Policy contains four areas on which development should focus: sport at school, alternating sports seasons, community involvement and the Saba United Sports Federation. The policy contains practical recommendations for implementing the areas of focus. “These four priorities will lay a strong foundation for the further growth of sport on Saba,” said Wilson.

Opening photo: On 19 December, State Secretary Maarten van Ooijen (third from right) presented the Sports Policy 2022–2025 to Deputy for Sport and Public Health Rolando Wilson (second from right). Anton Hermans is on the far right. Photo: Suzanne Koelega.