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Relevance and sustainability of school health programmes based on the FRESH framework are enhanced by implementing the FRESH Supporting Strategies.
The Supporting Strategies call for:
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- Effective partnerships between teachers and health workers and between the education and health sectors
The success of school health programmes requires an effective partnership between the Ministries of Education and Health, and between teachers and health workers. The health sector retains the responsibility for the health of children, but the education sector is responsible for implementing, and often funding, school-based programmes. These sectors need to identify responsibilities and develop a co-ordinated plan of action to improve the health and learning outcomes of children.
For teachers and other school personnel to contribute effectively to school-based health initiatives, they must be trained and supported in new roles. The FRESH partners are committed to helping governments expand and improve pre- and in-service training of schoolteachers, administrators and other employees.
- Effective community partnerships
Positive interaction between the school and the community is fundamental to the success and sustainability of school-based health programmes. Effective community partnerships ensure broad-based agreement about the health issues that schools should address, and joint action to design and maintain an appropriate programmatic response. Parent input and support increases the likelihood that health-promoting education will reach the entire family and be reinforced at home. Involvement of the broader community (the private sector, community organisations and women’s groups) also enhances and reinforces the school’s health promotion activities, and brings additional human and material resources to the effort as well.
- Pupil awareness and participation
Children are not simply the beneficiaries of school health promotion activities, but also important participants. Children who are involved in health policy development and implementation activities, efforts to create a safer and more sanitary environment, health promotion aimed at their parents, other children, and community members, and school health services, learn about health by doing. This is an effective way to help young people acquire the knowledge, attitudes, values and skills needed to embrace a health-promoting lifestyle. Healthy young people are likely to complete more years of education, and be healthier and more productive as adults.
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- Effective partnerships between teachers and health workers and between the education and health sectors
The success of school health programmes requires an effective partnership between the Ministries of Education and Health, and between teachers and health workers. The health sector retains the responsibility for the health of children, but the education sector is responsible for implementing, and often funding, school-based programmes. These sectors need to identify responsibilities and develop a co-ordinated plan of action to improve the health and learning outcomes of children.
For teachers and other school personnel to contribute effectively to school-based health initiatives, they must be trained and supported in new roles. The FRESH partners are committed to helping governments expand and improve pre- and in-service training of schoolteachers, administrators and other employees.
- Effective community partnerships
Positive interaction between the school and the community is fundamental to the success and sustainability of school-based health programmes. Effective community partnerships ensure broad-based agreement about the health issues that schools should address, and joint action to design and maintain an appropriate programmatic response. Parent input and support increases the likelihood that health-promoting education will reach the entire family and be reinforced at home. Involvement of the broader community (the private sector, community organisations and women’s groups) also enhances and reinforces the school’s health promotion activities, and brings additional human and material resources to the effort as well.
- Pupil awareness and participation
Children are not simply the beneficiaries of school health promotion activities, but also important participants. Children who are involved in health policy development and implementation activities, efforts to create a safer and more sanitary environment, health promotion aimed at their parents, other children, and community members, and school health services, learn about health by doing. This is an effective way to help young people acquire the knowledge, attitudes, values and skills needed to embrace a health-promoting lifestyle. Healthy young people are likely to complete more years of education, and be healthier and more productive as adults.
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