Palau Praises School Meals Web Platform as Model for the Pacific

(中央社訊息服務20250703 11:04:11)The Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Palau has held a workshop for local officials on the use and development of its online platform for information about school lunches. The TTM last month launched the platform as part of efforts to assist the Palau Ministry of Education in managing school meal services. The platform integrates nutritional expertise with digital technology to consolidate the nationwide management and announcement system for Palau’s Food Service Program (FSP). At the workshop, the TTM went over the development of the platform with officials, and covered use of the platform to access menu information. Key local officials, including Director Raynold Mechol of the Ministry of Education, were in attendance.

The platform was designed with the assistance of nutritionist Kelvin Chen and developed by Taiwan youth Overseas Service member Chen Yuan-Hsi, based on the specific needs of Palau’s Ministry of Education. The website integrates functions such as daily menus, food waste estimation, ingredient inventory and procurement, menu announcements, and meal feedback—all in one interface—to improve efficiency and service quality. Its user interface incorporates Palau's Ministry of Education’s signature colors and cultural elements, and also features the TaiwanICDF logo, symbolizing the deep-rooted partnership between Taiwan and Palau.

In his remarks, Director Mechol noted that the TTM has long supported Palau's agricultural development and regularly supplies fresh produce to the FSP. He emphasized that this new digital platform represents a significant advancement for school meal services in Palau and serves as a potential model for other Pacific nations to adopt.

TTM Leader Benjamin Tsai added that the TaiwanICDF and the Palau Ministry of Education have collaborated on the FSP for over a decade. The ministry plans to fully implement the website across all schools when the new semester begins in August, allowing students and parents to instantly view daily menus, thus enhancing transparency and engagement.

TaiwanICDF Deputy Secretary General Peifen Hsieh said that the launch of the portal is the result of close collaboration among the Palau Ministry of Education, the TTM, JICA volunteers, and local ICT personnel. It reflects the spirit of cross-border, cross-sector, and interdisciplinary cooperation. Future updates to the platform will include features such as a “Health Column” and “Healthy Recipes” to ensure the continuity of data maintenance despite staff changes. Through digital tools, this initiative aims to safeguard balanced nutrition for Palauan children and advance the vision of Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung’s Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project initiative.