Overview

WHO and UNESCO are launching a new initiative “Making Every School a Health Promoting School” through the development and promotion of Global Standards for Health Promoting Schools. The initiative will serve over 2.3 billion school-age children, and will contribute to the WHO's 13th General Programme of Work’ target of achieving “1 billion lives made healthier” by 2023.

The global population of adolescents has never been larger than it is now. The 1.2 billion adolescents in the world today represent more than one sixth (18%) of the global population. Most of them go to school. Globally, over 90% of children in the primary school age, and over 80% of children in the lower secondary school age are enrolled in school where they spend 1/3 of their time. This makes schools a unique setting for preventive interventions, and school years an important period to establish healthy behaviours that will contribute to a lifetime of health promotion. However, challenges remain. Global mortality and morbidity estimates in children and adolescents suggest that school age children have significant needs for health promotion, prevention and health care services.

Health Promoting Schools have been recognized as a strategic vehicle to promote positive development and healthy behaviours such as physical activity, physical fitness, recreation and play, balanced nutrition, prevent tobacco use, and preventing being bullied. Despite the fact that the concept of Health Promoting Schools was articulated by WHO, UNESCO and UNICEF back in 1992, only few countries have successfully implemented Health Promoting Schools at scale.

A recent guidance by WHO and other UN partners - Global accelerated action for the health of adolescents (AA-HA!): guidance to support country implementation - recommended that “every school should be a health promoting school”. A standards-driven approach towards the implementation of this recommendation, and strengthening the role of school health services, will accelerate global progress.