The inextricable link between
health and education is well established and ample evidence is available to show
that poor health and nutrition of school children effect there concentration and
comprehension and thereby impede their cognitive development. This is
responsible for poor school performance and has direct implication for the
achievement of their and the country’s educational goals. Educational
achievement of students is central to quality human development on which depend
a country’s global competitiveness and sustainable national development.
Effective educational system is therefore required to ensure that school
children are healthy and able to learn. The good health of children also
increases school enrolment, reduces absenteeism, and brings the poorest and most
disadvantaged children to school. School health has therefor come to be
recognized as an investment in a country’s future and in the capacity of its
people to thrive economically and socially. School health programs which were
previously a future of high and middle income countries and elite schools in low
income countries are now being developed to specifically target poor and
marginalized children in a number of developing countries. The WHO global school
health initiative launched in 1995 seeks to mobilize and strengthen health
promotion and education activities through schools to improve the health of
school age children and school personnel along with that of their families and
communities. The initiative defines a ‘Health promoting Schools’, as ‘a school
constantly strengthening its capacity as a healthy setting for living , learning
and working’. At the world education forum 2000 governments, organizations,
agencies, groups and associations pledged to achieve the goal of ‘education for
all’ through the creation of safe, healthy, inclusive and equitably resourced
educational environments conducive and excellence in learning. Through school
health program important public health goals like combating a number of health
problems including malaria, warm in infestation and malnutrition and promotion
of sexual and reproductive health. Hand washing and hygiene education can also
be achieved through school children and teacher becoming agents of change.
Pakistan has been experimenting with the implementation of school health program
from time to time. A successful and sustainable model has as yet not been
developed. With the 18th constitutional amendment empowering provinces to take
on the full responsibility and authority for education and health, the provinces
are in the processes developing their policies, strategies and programs in the
two sectors. The Punjab govt. has recently launched a school health program in
33 of its 36 districts through its health sector reforms program.
Good health and nutrition are not only essential inputs but also important
outcomes of basic education of good quality. First, in its maximum benefits,
Early childhood care programs and primary schools which improve children’s
health and nutrition can enhance the learning and educational outcomes of school
children. Second, education of good quality can lead to better health and
nutrition outcomes for children, especially girls, and thus for the next
generation of children as well. In addition, a healthy, safe and secure school
environment can help protect children from health hazards, abuse and exclusion.