Effectiveness of BIRTAN Food-Based Training on Secondary School Teachers at Pirgonj Upazila Under Rangpur District, Bangladesh

Rubayet Ferdous Noman, Md. Sadequl Islam, Mursaleen Z. Turin, Nurunnobi ,, Farjana R. Bhuiyan, Rahana Akther, Mohammad Z. Ullah, Most Altaf-Un-Nahar, Shahana Yeasmin

Abstract


The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of BIRTAN food-based training on secondary school teachers in Pirgonj Upazila, Rangpur District, Bangladesh. The specific objectives were to determine the characteristics of the respondents, evaluate the extent of effectiveness of the food-based training, and explore how selected teacher characteristics influence training effectiveness. The research used a quantitative approach with a sample of 172 secondary school teachers selected through simple random sampling from a population of 310. Data collection tools included an interview schedule measuring three dimensions of training effectiveness: information received, understanding, and application, each rated on a 4-point scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation coefficients, and multiple regression in SPSS. Findings revealed that most teachers had moderate effectiveness from the training, with 60% showing medium effectiveness levels and only 17.4% achieving high effectiveness. The study identified significant positive relationships between training effectiveness and factors such as educational qualification, physical mobility, training received, and knowledge of food and nutrition, while age had a slight negative effect and professional experience was not significant. The regression model explained 41.6% of the variance in training effectiveness, highlighting the importance of these characteristics in enhancing training outcomes. The study recommends improving food-based training programs by emphasizing educational qualifications, physical mobility, and nutrition knowledge of teachers during planning and implementation to increase effectiveness. Strengthening these factors could better equip teachers to apply nutrition knowledge in their professional and personal lives, thereby supporting improved nutritional awareness in the school community.

Keywords


Nutrition; Training; Information; BIRTAN; Food; Teachers

References


Albuquerque, A.G., Pontes, C.M. and Osório, M.M. 2013. Knowledge of educators and dieticians on food and nutrition education in the school environment. Revista de Nutrição, 26(3): 291–300.

Bhattacharjee, L., Saha, S.K. and Nandi, B.K. 2007. Food-based nutrition strategies in Bangladesh: Experience of integrated horticulture and nutrition development. RAP Publication.

Blom-Hoffman, J., Kelleher, C., Power, T.J. and Leff, S.S. 2004. Promoting healthy food consumption among young children: Evaluation of a multi-component nutrition education program. Journal of School Psychology, 42(1): 45–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2003.08.004

Contento, I.R. 2016. Nutrition education: Linking research, theory, and practice. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Davidson, K.A., Kropp, J.D. and Rahman, M.W. 2025. Effectiveness of participatory trainings in improving nutrition knowledge and dietary diversity in rural Bangladesh. Agriculture & Food Security, 14(1): 1.

Day, C. and Gu, Q. 2007. Variations in the conditions for teachers’ professional learning and development: Sustaining commitment and effectiveness over a career. Oxford Review of Education, 33(4): 423–443.

Dunn, C.G., Burgermaster, M., Adams, A., Koch, P., Adintori, P.A. and Stage, V.C. 2019. A systematic review and content analysis of classroom teacher professional development in nutrition education programs. Advances in Nutrition, 10(2): 351–359.

Dunn, C.G., Burgermaster, M., Adams, A., Koch, P., Adintori, P. A. and Stage, V. C. 2019. A systematic review and content analysis of classroom-based nutrition education interventions. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. Advances in Nutrition, 10:351–359.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). 2020. School-based food and nutrition education: A white paper on the current state, principles, challenges and recommendations for low- and middle-income countries. FAO.

Garet, M.S., Porter, A.C., Desimone, L., Birman, B.F. and Yoon, K.S. 2001. What makes professional development effective? Results from a national sample of teachers. American Educational Research Journal, 38(4): 915–945.

Habib, M.A., Alam, M.R., Rahman, T., Chowdhury, A.I. and Shill, L.C. 2023. Knowledge, attitudes and practices of nutrition among school teachers in Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study. PLOS ONE, 18(3): e0283530.

Katsagoni, C.N., Apostolou, A., Georgoulis, M., Psarra, G., Bathrellou, E., Filippou, C., Panagiotakos, D.B. and Sidossis, L.S. 2019. Schoolteachers’ nutrition knowledge, beliefs and attitudes before and after an e-learning program. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 51(9): 1088–1098. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2019.07.001

Kupolati, M.D., MacIntyre, U.E., Gericke, G.J. and Becker, P. 2019. A contextual nutrition education program improves nutrition knowledge and attitudes of South African teachers and learners. Frontiers in Public Health, 7: 258. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00258

Kyere, P., Veerman, J.L., Lee, P. and Stewart, D.E. 2020. Effectiveness of school-based nutrition interventions in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review. Public Health Nutrition, 23(14): 2626–2636. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980020000506

Nyma, Z., Rahman, M., Das, S., Alam, M. A., Haque, E. and Ahmed, T. 2023. Dietary diversity modification through school-based nutrition education among adolescent girls in Bangladesh. 18(3): e0282407.

Pérez-Rodrigo, C. and Aranceta, J. 2001. School-based nutrition education: Lessons learned and new perspectives. Public Health Nutrition, 4(1A): 131–139.

Peralta, L. R., Werkhoven, T., Cotton, W. G., & Dudley, D. A2020. Professional development for teachers delivering nutrition education programs. Health Behaviour Policy Review, 7(5):374-396.

Popova, A., Evans, D.K., Breeding, M.E. and Arancibia, V. 2018. Teacher professional development around the world: The gap between evidence and practice. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper.

Raby Powers, A., Struempler, B.J., Guarino, A. and Parmer, S.M. 2005. Effects of a nutrition education program on the dietary behavior and nutrition knowledge of second-grade and third-grade students. Journal of School Health, 75(4): 129–133. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2005.00010.x

Richter, D., Kunter, M., Klusmann, U., Lüdtke, O. and Baumert, J. 2011. Professional development across the teaching career: Teachers’ uptake of formal and informal learning opportunities. Teaching and Teacher Education, 27(1): 116–126.

Roseman, M.G., Riddell, M.C. and Haynes, J.N. 2011. A content analysis of kindergarten–12th-grade school-based nutrition interventions: Taking advantage of past learning. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 43(1): 2–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2010.07.009

Snelling, A., Ernst, J. and Belson, S. 2016. Teachers as role models in solving childhood obesity. Journal of Pediatric Biochemistry, 3(1): 55–60. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0036-1586429

Thackeray, R., Neiger, B.L., Bartle, H., Hill, S.C. and Barnes, M.D. 2002. Elementary school teachers’ perspectives on health instruction: Implications for health education. American Journal of Health Education, 33(2): 77–82. https://doi.org/10.1080/19325037.2002.10609420


Full Text: PDF

DOI: 10.33687/ijae.014.02.5894

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2026 Rubayet Ferdous Noman

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.