By Shanika AbdulLatib
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) -- There is nothing like starting young when it comes to inculcating noble qualities such as honesty.
Earlier this year, the canteen operator at a primary school in Beranang -- a small town on the Selangor-Negeri Sembilan border -- introduced a system where the students have to pay for their food and drinks by putting their money into a special box placed on the counter and taking the change due to them.
Although there were a few hiccups initially, over time the children learnt to be responsible and today, the 2,500-student SK Bandar Tasik Kesuma's canteen -- KePs Blue Cafe -- is operating smoothly.
KePs Blue Cafe was among the school canteens that took home the top prizes at the 2019 Canteen Service Best Practices Competition organised by the Education and Health Ministries in collaboration with The Holstein Milk Company Sdn Bhd.
The prize presentation ceremony was held on Aug 27. A total of 58 primary and secondary schools nationwide had participated in the contest.
SK Bandar Tasik Kesuma clinched the silver medal in the "overall best" category for primary schools and also won silvers in the 3R Campaign, and Healthy and Fresh categories.
INCULCATE HONESTY
KePs Blue Cafe operator Jamilah Buyung, 52, admitted that initially it was difficult to ensure that the students made the correct payments for their purchases.
"There were some who paid less or even forgot to pay or took more change than they should have. But over time, they felt ashamed whenever their classmates or the canteen marshal told them off (for not being honest).
"Nowadays, the students themselves will come to see me if they make any mistake with their payments," she told Bernama.
Besides inculcating honesty in the students, KePs Blue Cafe also put in place other best practices over the last two years to educate the pupils that it is their responsibility to keep their cafeteria spic and span.
They are required to clean up after themselves and put their plates and cups at a designated place after they have eaten.
"In the beginning, some of them went against these practices but over time they started doing it, probably after observing their friends doing it without being told to do so," said Jamilah, adding that the canteen is now always clean.
Using peer pressure to change the behaviour of errant students was more effective than penalising them, she added.
According to canteen marshal Irsyanuddin Musa, 11, the students have also learnt to queue up in a orderly manner when buying their food and drinks.
"It is easier now for us (marshals) to control the students (during recess) and they no longer push each other when they are at the counter to take their food or make their payment," he said, adding that KePs Blue Cafe was also a place for the students to relax and watch television when they are free.
EVOLUTION OF CANTEEN LANDSCAPE
Meanwhile, the transformation of the canteen at SMK Baru in Miri, Sarawak -- which won the gold medal in the overall best category for secondary schools in the 2019 Canteen Service Best Practices Competition -- can be attributed to the efforts of the school's 862 students, 81 teachers and canteen operators.
Principal Jerrah Pandin told Bernama their canteen, Cafe Rimba, was not only a place for the students to eat but also served as a knowledge centre.
"Most of our students are from the medium and low socio-economic groups, so we have a programme to provide them with nutritious meals.
"We've also decorated our canteen with bamboo and other natural elements to create a beautiful environment... this has succeeded in attracting the students and enhancing school attendance," he said.
Student and Cafe Rimba ambassador Syed Haziq Hadif Wan Saifuddin, 19, said the canteen is also utilised as space to carry out projects and share knowledge and this year alone, the school intends to implement three innovative projects.
"So far, we've carried out projects to make soap from used cooking oil and produce compost from food scraps through the bokashi process (an organic waste fermentation process)," he said.
SK Pauh Jaya in Penang, which grabbed the gold medal in the overall best category for primary schools, takes pride in its Hitsbox programme under which about 360 poor students in the school are provided with nutritious meals every day.
Principal Ramlee Abu Bakar said the programme, carried out in collaboration with the Parent-Teacher Association, took off in January 2018, with each food packet given to the students valued at RM3.
The school's canteen operators Mohd Fahmi Ahmad, 35, and his wife Nadirah Azizan make it a point to add variety to the menu to ensure that the students do not become bored with the food.
Translated by Rema Nambiar
-- BERNAMA
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