Inter-ministerial Meeting to revitalize Health Promoting Schools in South-East Asia Region

Overview

In 2019 WHO, UNESCO, UNICEF, and inter-agency partners worked together to transform fragmented school health services to generate better system and structures to provide wholistic approach to health promoting schools, inclusive of digital learning, involvement of parents, teachers, staffs, and to some extend the communities where children live. The Global Standard for Health Promoting Schools and Implementation guidance have been developed in collaboration between WHO, UNESCO, UNICEF and expert groups to support health and education sectors in sustainable development and increased country investment for health in school settings. Subsequently, WHO and UNESCO have launched a new initiative “Making Every School a Health Promoting School.” The initiative is expected to serve over 2.3 billion school-age children and will contribute to WHO's 13th General Programme of Work’ target of achieving “1 billion lives made healthier” by 2023 and to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals in the field of education and health. UNESCO reported that school closures in over 180 countries have laid bare inequalities in education, deficiencies in remote learning, the cost of the digital divide, as well as the important role schools play in student health and wellbeing. After this crisis, Governments around the world will need to reassess learning systems to meet these challenges. Schools that promote health in all its dimensions will be able to meet these challenges effectively.