Back to: Jss2 Physical and Health Education (BST)

Introduction 

School health programmes are essential initiative that promotes the health and well-being of learners in educational institutions. It aims to provide a comprehensive approach to health, encompassing physical, mental, and social well-being. The programme recognizes that health is not only an input but also an essential outcome of education of good quality.

Healthy learners are better equipped to participate fully in their education and achieve their maximum potential. Therefore, the promotion of good health must be integrated into the school system to ensure that learners can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. The school health programme also recognizes that promoting a positive interaction between the school and the community is fundamental to the success and sustainability of any school improvement process.

The school health programme involves various stakeholders, including teachers, school administrators, parents, and healthcare professionals, who collaborate to create a healthy and supportive learning environment. The programme includes a range of interventions, such as regular health checks, health education, and the provision of healthy meals and clean drinking water. It also encompasses measures to promote mental health, such as counselling services and peer support networks.

The school health programme extends beyond the school gates to engage with the wider community. It involves collaboration with local healthcare providers, community-based organizations, and government agencies to ensure that learners have access to the necessary health services and resources. This community engagement fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility for the health and well-being of learners, promoting sustainability and the long-term success of the programme.

Meaning and Components of School health programmes 

School health programs are a set of organized initiatives aimed at promoting and improving the health and well-being of students and staff in educational institutions. These programs are designed to support students’ academic achievements by ensuring that they are in good physical, mental, and emotional health. In addition, they aim to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for all.

The components of school health programs typically include various health education initiatives, such as nutrition and physical activity education, substance abuse prevention, and sexual health education. These programs also encompass physical health interventions, such as screening for health issues, immunizations, and referrals for medical care when necessary. Mental health support, such as counselling services, stress management programs, and suicide prevention initiatives, are also important components of school health programs.

School health programs may also address environmental factors that affect the health and safety of students and staff. This may include measures to ensure clean and safe drinking water, healthy indoor air quality, and safe school facilities and equipment.

The components of school health programmes include:

School health services

Health officials such as doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals play a critical role in ensuring the well-being of students and school staff. They use various methods to safeguard the health of students and staff members, ranging from keeping accurate health records to implementing preventive measures against the spread of communicable diseases.

One of the essential ways health officials protect the health of students and staff is by keeping detailed health records. These records enable healthcare providers to monitor the health of each individual, identify any underlying health conditions that may require attention, and provide appropriate care and treatment.

Another crucial aspect of healthcare in schools is the prevention of the spread of communicable diseases. Health officials implement strategies such as hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and social distancing to minimize the transmission of illnesses. They also educate students and staff on proper hygiene practices and provide resources such as hand sanitisers and masks.

Health officials also provide a range of healthcare services to students and staff. These services may include routine check-ups, immunizations, and treatment for minor illnesses and injuries. They may also offer mental health support services, such as counselling and referrals to mental health professionals.

The objectives of school health services are multifaceted and aim to promote the overall well-being of all individuals within the school setting. The following is an expanded and more detailed explanation of the objectives:

i. To promote optimal health within the school setting of all persons in schools: This objective aims to promote and maintain good health among students, teachers, and other staff members. It involves ensuring that the school environment is conducive to good health and that appropriate health education is provided to everyone.

ii. To prevent diseases among all persons in schools: This objective involves taking measures to prevent the spread of diseases within the school setting. It includes immunization programs, regular health checkups, and maintaining hygiene and sanitation within the school premises.

iii. To promote healthy growth and development in all school learners: This objective focuses on promoting the physical, mental, and emotional development of students. It involves ensuring that students have access to healthy food options, physical activity programs, and mental health support services.

iv. To promote early detection of defects and diagnosis of diseases amongst all in school: This objective aims to identify and address any health issues that students or staff members may be experiencing. It involves regular health screenings and assessments to detect any health problems early on.

v. To provide prompt treatment for diseases and injuries occurring among all persons in schools: This objective involves providing appropriate medical care to students or staff members who may have fallen ill or sustained an injury while at school.

vi. To provide referral and follow-up services in schools: This objective involves providing appropriate referrals to specialists and follow-up care to ensure that any health issues are properly addressed and resolved.

vii. To ensure effective counseling services for all learners, staff, and parents/guardians when necessary: This objective involves providing emotional support and counselling services to students, staff members, and their families when needed.

viii. To promote the effectiveness of the school feeding service: This objective aims to ensure that students have access to nutritious and healthy meals while at school. It involves working with food service providers to ensure that the meals provided are balanced and meet the nutritional needs of students.

School-Home-Community Relationship

The interconnectivity between the school, home, and community forms a crucial relationship in promoting the holistic development of children. This relationship serves as a channel for educators to impart knowledge and skills to parents and guardians on various ways of ensuring the well-being of their wards.

One of the significant areas of focus is on safeguarding the health of children. The school-home-community relationship provides an avenue for parents and guardians to learn about the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle for their children, including proper nutrition, physical exercise, and personal hygiene.

Moreover, this relationship is an excellent platform for promoting health education programs through the Parents Teachers Association (PTA). These programs aim to create awareness and educate parents on various health-related issues affecting their children, such as infectious diseases, mental health, and substance abuse. By doing so, parents are better equipped to provide appropriate support and care for their children and create a healthy environment for them to thrive.

Objectives of School, Home and Community Relationships

The relationships between schools, homes, and communities are essential for the successful education and development of children. These relationships can have a significant impact on a child’s academic and social success, and the objectives of these relationships are aimed at improving these areas. Here are the objectives of the school, home, and community relationships:

1. To improve communication: One of the primary objectives of these relationships is to improve communication between schools, homes, and communities. This includes providing detailed ways of solving problems that inhibit cordial relationships. Effective communication between these entities can ensure that everyone is aware of what is happening in the school, as well as the needs and concerns of all stakeholders.
2. To encourage community involvement: Community involvement is critical in creating a positive learning environment for children. The involvement of community members can help to implement school health programs, which can positively impact the physical and mental health of learners. By encouraging community members to participate actively in school health program implementation, schools can create a sense of ownership and shared responsibility towards the well-being of learners.
3. To promote environmental and behavioural change: The school is not just a place for academic learning, but also a place for learners to develop healthy behaviours and attitudes. The promotion of environmental and behavioural change among members of the school and the neighbourhood community can ensure that learners are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in life.
4. To promote relationships between stakeholders: Effective relationships between school staff, parents, and other members of the community are crucial in creating a supportive and nurturing learning environment. Positive relationships can help to foster a sense of community and encourage collaboration, which can lead to better outcomes for learners.
5. To reinforce relationships between parents and learners: Finally, the reinforcement of relationships between parents and learners is essential for the overall well-being and success of learners. Parents are the primary caregivers and educators of their children, and reinforcing their relationships with their children can help to promote positive attitudes towards learning, improve academic outcomes, and build a stronger sense of community within the school.

Healthful School Living/ Healthful School Environment

Promoting a safe and healthy school environment is crucial in ensuring the well-being of students and staff members. There are several ways to achieve this goal, and the following are some of the most effective methods:

1. Maintaining a clean and healthy environment: A clean and healthy environment is essential in preventing the spread of diseases and infections. It is essential to ensure that the school environment is free from dust, dirt, and clutter. Regular cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces and common areas such as classrooms, bathrooms, and libraries can help in preventing the spread of germs and viruses.
2. Encouraging healthy eating habits: Proper nutrition is vital in promoting good health and well-being. The school can encourage healthy eating habits by providing nutritious meals and snacks that are low in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats. Students can also be educated on the benefits of healthy eating and how to make healthy food choices.
3. Maintaining an effective sewage and refuse disposal system: A proper sewage and refuse disposal system is essential in maintaining a safe and healthy school environment. The school should ensure that sewage and refuse are disposed of properly and that there are no leakages or blockages. This will prevent the spread of disease-causing organisms and pests.
4. Encouraging regular exercise: Physical activity is crucial in maintaining good health and reducing the risk of chronic diseases. The school can encourage students and staff members to engage in regular physical activity by providing opportunities for sports, games, and other physical activities. This can help in reducing stress, improving mental health, and promoting overall well-being.

Objectives of the healthful school environment

The objectives of a healthful school environment are multifaceted and geared towards promoting the physical, mental, and social well-being of students, teachers, and staff. The following are some of the key objectives that make up a healthful school environment:

1. Providing safe and conducive living and learning conditions: This objective aims to ensure that schools provide an environment that is safe and conducive to learning. It includes creating a safe physical space by addressing potential hazards such as unsafe buildings, broken equipment, and overcrowding. A safe and conducive environment also means providing adequate lighting, ventilation, and temperature control.
2. Promoting healthy practices: This objective focuses on promoting healthy practices among students and staff in order to prevent water and sanitation-related illnesses and diseases. It includes educating learners on proper hand-washing techniques, encouraging them to drink clean water, and providing access to sanitary facilities. Promoting healthy practices can also involve promoting healthy eating habits and physical activity.
3. Bringing about positive changes in hygiene behaviour: This objective aims to encourage students to develop healthy hygiene practices that they can carry into adulthood. It includes educating students on the importance of personal hygiene, such as regular bathing and brushing their teeth. Promoting good hygiene practices can also extend beyond the school environment, as students carry these habits into their communities.
4. Providing safe recreational facilities: This objective is concerned with ensuring that schools provide safe and engaging recreational facilities for students. Safe recreational facilities promote physical activity, which is important for maintaining good physical and mental health. These facilities can include playgrounds, sports fields, and gymnasiums.
5. Organizing school health days: School health days are events that bring together students, staff, and the community to raise awareness of health issues and provide health services. These events can include health screenings, immunizations, and health education sessions.
6. Establishing interpersonal relationships within the school community: This objective aims to promote positive relationships between students, staff, and the community. Positive relationships are important for creating a supportive and inclusive environment that promotes mental health and well-being. Schools can achieve this by fostering a culture of respect and tolerance.
7. Encouraging compliance with approved environmental health and sanitation standards for schools: This objective involves ensuring that schools comply with the approved environmental health and sanitation standards set by the government or relevant regulatory body. Compliance ensures that schools maintain a healthy and safe environment for students, teachers, and staff. Schools can achieve this by conducting regular inspections and implementing appropriate measures to address any deficiencies.

School Feeding Service

Ensuring that students have access to healthy food is crucial to their overall well-being and academic success. Numerous studies have shown that healthy eating patterns can contribute to full physical and mental growth, reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases, and even increase life expectancy. Therefore, schools have a significant responsibility to promote and maintain healthy eating habits among their students and staff.

By implementing well-designed school nutrition programs, schools can positively influence their students’ eating habits. These programs can provide nutritional education, as well as offer healthy meal options and snacks on campus. It has been observed that students who participate in such programs tend to make healthier choices outside of school, which can contribute to their long-term health.

It is important to note that poor food handling and storage practices can result in the presence of intestinal parasites in school children, which can negatively impact their absorption and utilization of nutrients. This, in turn, can lead to poor growth and development. Therefore, it is critical for schools to ensure that their food procurement, inspection, and handling practices are up to par with the recommended standards.

The different elements of school feeding services include nutritional services, feeding services, food procurement services, and food inspection services. Nutritional services can include counselling, nutrition education, and the development of healthy meal plans. Feeding services involve the preparation and distribution of healthy meals and snacks to students. Food procurement services are responsible for ensuring that the food purchased is of high quality and meets all safety standards. Finally, food inspection services monitor the quality and safety of the food served in schools.

Objectives of The School Feeding Service

The school feeding service is a program aimed at improving the well-being of learners through the provision of nutritious meals during school hours. Its objectives are multifaceted and encompass the following:

1. Reducing Hunger and Malnutrition: One of the primary goals of the school feeding service is to address hunger and malnutrition among learners, which are major obstacles to their development and academic performance. By providing regular meals, the program aims to improve their health, boost their energy levels, and support their cognitive and physical growth.
2. Enhancing Participatory Learning: The school feeding service can also enhance the quality of education by fostering participatory learning. When learners are well-fed, they are more likely to be attentive, engaged, and focused in class, which can lead to better learning outcomes. Additionally, the program can create a sense of community and belonging, as learners and teachers can come together to share meals and socialize.
3. Contributing to Increased School Enrolment, Attendance, Retention, and Completion: The school feeding service can have a positive impact on school attendance, retention, and completion rates, particularly among vulnerable populations. Children from poor households or marginalized communities may face barriers to attending school due to hunger or lack of resources, and the provision of free meals can help overcome these challenges. Additionally, when children are well-nourished and healthy, they are less likely to miss school due to illness, which can improve their academic performance and increase their chances of completing their education.
4. Serving as an Avenue for Teaching Basic Hygiene and Nutritional Facts to Learners: Finally, the school feeding service can serve as a platform for teaching basic hygiene and nutritional facts to learners. By providing meals that are balanced and diverse, the program can help children learn about healthy eating habits and the importance of a nutritious diet. Additionally, the program can incorporate hygiene practices such as handwashing, food safety, and waste management, which can help prevent the spread of disease and promote good health.

A Fresh Approach to School Health Programme

FRESH, an acronym for Focusing Resources on Effective School Health, is a comprehensive approach to promoting health and education in schools. The initiative was launched at the World Education Forum in Senegal in April 2000, with the aim of providing a framework for school health programs that can be adapted to meet the specific needs of different communities.

The FRESH approach is built on a set of basic components that include policies, partnerships, and programs. Policies provide a framework for action by outlining the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, including government agencies, schools, and community groups. Partnerships involve collaboration between different organizations, such as health agencies, education departments, and community groups, to support school health initiatives. Programs focus on promoting healthy behaviours among students and providing access to health services.

One of the key features of the FRESH approach is its emphasis on a holistic view of health that considers physical, mental, and social well-being. This approach recognizes that good health is not only the absence of disease but also the presence of positive social and emotional factors that contribute to overall well-being. To this end, FRESH programs aim to promote healthy behaviours, such as regular exercise, healthy eating, and good hygiene practices, as well as positive social and emotional development.

Another important aspect of the FRESH approach is its focus on equity and inclusion. The initiative recognizes that some students may face greater barriers to good health and education than others, such as those living in poverty or from marginalized communities. FRESH programs aim to address these disparities by ensuring that all students have access to the resources and support they need to thrive.

 The FRESH approach is a comprehensive strategy aimed at promoting the health and well-being of students and school staff. It is a framework developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, UNESCO, and the World Bank. The approach recognizes that the health and well-being of students are essential for their academic success and their future well-being.

The FRESH approach has four basic components that work together to achieve its goal:

a. Health-related school policies: This component involves the development and implementation of policies that promote the health, nutrition, and hygiene of students and school staff. Such policies also address issues of sexual harassment, bullying, and violence in schools. Health-related school policies ensure that schools are safe and healthy places for students and staff to learn and work.

b. School-based health and nutrition services: This component provides simple, safe, and familiar health and nutritional services to students and staff. The services include counseling for children affected by HIV/AIDS and those traumatized by conflict. School-based health and nutrition services also address health problems that are prevalent and recognized as important within the community.

c. Safe water and sanitation facilities: This component ensures that students and staff have access to clean and drinkable water and good health facilities. It also ensures that facilities such as the kitchen, toilet, and bathroom are properly maintained. Safe water and sanitation facilities are essential for preventing the spread of diseases and promoting good hygiene practices.

d. Skills-based health education: This component focuses on providing students with the knowledge, attitudes, values, and life skills needed to make appropriate and positive decisions concerning their health. Skills-based health education is a vital part of the FRESH approach as it equips students with the knowledge and skills to take responsibility for their own health and well-being.