Summary:
The Education Act coordinates education from the primary to tertiary level, including public, private and assisted private institutions.
Description:
The Education Act is applicable to all public and private education institutions in Barbados, covering every stage of education from primary to tertiary level education. Pupils of any age for whom education is provided under the Act fall within its scope, as do parents or guardians of children of compulsory school age, defined as 5 to 16 years.
The Act contains one provision that is directly relevant to food policy and nutrition. Section 59(2)(i) empowers the Minister to make regulations respecting the provision of milk and meals to pupils in public educational institutions, including the conditions and charges under which milk and meals are to be provided. This is an enabling provision only. The Act does not set nutrition standards, dietary guidelines, or food quality requirements. Any regulation made under section 59(2)(i) is subject to affirmative resolution of Parliament to take effect pursuant to section 59(3).