The state-run Shargh newspaper reported on malnutrition caused by poverty among families of students in nomadic and rural schools, writing that many of these children are forced to wake up early in the morning and, on empty stomachs, walk long distances ranging from 20 minutes to an hour and a half to reach their schools.
On August 21, this newspaper quoted social activists who described the scenes of students fainting in school lines as heartbreaking, writing: “These children practically have no fuel for learning, and teachers and principals, due to the lack of even a single grocery store near the school, cannot provide food for them and often are forced to send the students home after such incidents.”
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Malnutrition, a serious problem in schools
Ronak Rostami, a social activist, told Shargh that malnutrition has become a serious issue in schools, with many children suffering from stomach aches and general weakness, which prevents them from making effective use of class time.
She noted that many students living in villages leave home at 6 a.m. or earlier, with their only sustenance being a piece of dry bread and a little kashk (a dried dairy product) eaten on the way to school.
Repeated warnings about child malnutrition
This is not the first time media in Iran have raised concerns about child malnutrition.
Previously, based on the findings of a field study conducted by a group of trained volunteer social workers, the consumption of dairy products among children in Iran was also reported as critical.
According to this study, only 2% of children consume dairy products daily, while 50% receive none at all.
Thus, a large portion of Iranian households face serious problems in securing basic nutrition, particularly protein and dairy products.
Deprived provinces
A civil activist in Khuzestan province, speaking about the problem of children going to school hungry, said: “The lifestyle of low-income families leaves no room for having breakfast.”
He added: “These children do not eat breakfast because of the lifestyle they have grown accustomed to and the prevailing hardships. These families wake up early, with parents tending to livestock or farm work, while children either help their parents in this or are tasked with looking after their younger siblings.”
A social activist in Ilam province also told Shargh: “Here, nobody even thinks about breakfast. Even if they do, they cannot afford it, and a child who generally lacks proper nutrition throughout the day goes to school without breakfast.”
He added: “In a place where a student needs to use both mind and body together, they lack the fuel to burn. I have personally witnessed heartbreaking scenes of weakness, lethargy, and even children fainting in school lines many times.”
