Andrew Carey
CALLS that home economics should become compulsory in secondary schools as local Limerick students reach the finals of the Super Chef cookery competition.
President of the Irish Restaurants association, Anthony Gray, has called for home economics to become compulsory in schools as it is the only second-level subject on the curriculum which exposes students to food education.
“In exposing students to food education, Home Economics provides students with knowledge and skills which enables them to understand food, read food labels correctly and importantly – to be able to cook nutritious meals for themselves and their families.
“Some of Ireland’s top chefs, both male and female, have got their passion for food passed on to them through generations. Lots of these chefs have shadowed their mother or grandmother by simply watching them cook and experimenting with ingredients and learned their culinary skills this way before moving on to catering college restaurants and eventually owning their own business.
“However, not all young people have this advantage so I feel really strongly about ensuring home economics has a mandatory place on the national curriculum where students can learn food safety and hygiene, food preparation and culinary skills. This measure can lead to a life-long love of food and healthy eating while ensuring students are equipped with basic life skills to leave home with, it can also benefit our industry where we are now at crisis levels with a shortage of chefs.
It would also raise the student’s awareness of good sustainable food as well as enjoying a long life of epicurean delights with a good healthy balanced diet, Mr Gray added.
The Restaurants Association of Ireland also announced that local secondary school students Louise Mc Grath, from John the Baptist Community School, and Bobby Hayes from Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh, have been named as finalists in the Super Chef All-Island Schools Cookery Competition 2015-2016.
