Gyeongnam Office of Education, Public Deliberation Promotion Team Recommends "Vegetarian Meals at Least Once a Month"

The Public Deliberation Promotion Team is discussing the agenda titled "Expansion of Vegetarian Meals to Respond to the Era of Climate Crisis and Environmental Disasters." [Image source=Gyeongnam Office of Education]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kang Sharon] The Gyeongsangnam-do Office of Education announced on the 1st that the Policy Deliberation Promotion Team recommended vegetarian meals at least once a month.

The Deliberation Promotion Team conducted a five-month deliberation process on the agenda selected last September, titled "Expansion of Vegetarian Meals in Response to the Climate Crisis and Environmental Disasters Era."

The Deliberation Promotion Team agreed on the following: ▲ the need to establish a foundation for changing the awareness of the educational community ▲ concurrent education linked with climate and environmental education ▲ the vegetarian meal type as 'pesco,' which includes grains, fruits, vegetables, seaweed, eggs, milk, and fish ▲ the frequency to be at least once a month, with the possibility of expansion based on democratic decision-making at each school.

Based on the policy recommendations of the Deliberation Promotion Team, the Office plans to form a dedicated team to promote sustainable vegetarian meals, prepare detailed implementation plans within this month, and apply vegetarian meals to school lunches starting from September.

The Deliberation Promotion Team conducted preliminary surveys targeting 6,500 students, parents, and staff each, and held meetings with nutrition teachers, nutritionists, cooks, and kitchen assistants to assess the current status of school meals.

Additionally, reflecting social distancing conditions, non-face-to-face roundtable discussions were held in four regions of the province using the future education support platform 'iTalkTalk.' Subsequently, a consensus meeting was held with about 20 participants including parents, teachers, nutrition teachers, nutritionists, and education administration experts.

Choi Seung-il, head of the Deliberation Promotion Team, said, "We approached this from a macro perspective for the transition to an ecological lifestyle for future generations," adding, "We went through a broad opinion-gathering process within the educational community for sustainable vegetarian meals."

Meanwhile, ahead of 'Earth Day (April 22),' the Office distributed vegetarian menus and educational materials to frontline schools under the policy of 'School Meals to Eat, Enjoy, and Learn.'

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.