Commentary

NETWORKS are social entities characterised by a commitment to quality, rigour and standards. The focus should always be on student-learning, holistic education of quality that caters for the whole development of the learner.

Mens sana in corpore sano - a healthy body is very important for ideas to prosper and to make the best use of our mental abilities. It is essential for all children to nurture good eating habits, which, coupled with the correct dose of physical exercise, will assure a healthy body and mind. Hence, it is sad to hear that Maltese and Gozitan children are, on average, more obese than their peers in the EU. A holistic education should work with might and main to induce a culture of healthy living from as early an age as possible.

A positive step forward in this direction was taken by the Gozo College when it organised a Healthy Breakfast Day for all Year IV pupils of the Gozo College on March 3. Networking thrives on collaboration and co-operation. Aware of this, the Gozo College organised the activity in conjunction with the Health Promotion Unit.

It was really a delight to see hundreds of learners accompanied by their teachers and parents assembled in the majestic Gozo Sports Centre. And it was much more than a healthy breakfast day - it was a real experience in healthy living which involved the mind and the body as well as the safeguarding of the environment.

There were very short introductory speeches by the Minister for Gozo, the college co-ordinator, the Principal Health Promotion Officer, the Officer in charge of the Gozo College environmental issues, and the heads of the drama and music schools. Indeed, the real focus was on the children who were entertained to a healthy breakfast prepared in collaboration with local sponsors. The motto was Ikel bnin ghat-tfal Ghawdxin, a philosophy which hopefully should accompany children all their lives.

Healthy living also means nourishing the mind and body with other healthy activities such as dancing and music, aptly provided by the Gozo College Schools of drama and music. Students who attend drama and music lessons after school hours demonstrated how these activities help us to stay fit. The Year IV pupils were so enthusiastic that they could not hold back from joining in the mirth. The saxophone and piano embellished the atmosphere with music, true ambrosia and nectar to the mind. The Gozo network is helping to give a voice and integrate extra-curricular areas which are part and parcel of a holistic education of quality.

It is most encouraging to know that that this was not a one-off occasion. Minister Debono announced that henceforth all primary pupils at the Gozo College were being invited to have a healthy breakfast at least once a week. The idea is to inculcate a culture of healthy eating and living from kindergarten, when habits are still being moulded.

It is also interesting to see how environmental issues were incorporated in the activity: Il-Brekfast Ihaddar! In a most informal and entertaining way, children were shown how to safeguard the environment by using the right materials and disposing of leftovers in the best way possible. As concrete proof of this, all children gave a helping hand to leave the place spic and span after the activity was over.

Undoubtedly, activities like this have a positive, lasting effect on the children, the parents and the whole community. The Gozo College is sowing the right enthusiasm and a culture of collaboration among all partners. This indeed augurs very well for the future of the college in particular and for Gozitan education in general.