UNESCO and WHO help schools improve the health and well-being of 1.9 billion students1.9

MADRID, June 22 (Europe Press) –

UNESCO and the World Health Organization (WHO) have launched the Global Standards for Health-Promoting Schools, a resource set for schools to improve the health and well-being of 1.9 billion school-aged children and adolescents.

The closure of many schools around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic has caused serious interruptions in education, in particular, significantly higher rates of stress, anxiety and other mental health problems have been noted.

“Schools play a vital role in the well-being of students, families and their communities, and the link between education and health has never been more clear. These newly launched global standards are designed to create schools that promote education and health, equipping WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus: “ Students who have the knowledge and skills for their future health and well-being, their employability and their life prospects.”

Based on a set of eight global standards, the resource package aims to ensure that all schools promote life skills, cognitive and socio-emotional skills, and healthy lifestyles for all students. These global standards will be tested in Botswana, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya and Paraguay.

“Education and health are a basic interrelated human right for all, at the core of any human right and essential to social and economic development. A school that does not promote health is no longer justified or accepted. I ask all of us to affirm our commitment and our role in making every school a health promoting school” This was stated by the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoli.

Global Standards provide a resource for education systems to help promote health and well-being through stronger governance. UNESCO and WHO will work with governments to enable countries to tailor the package to their specific contexts, as comprehensive school health and nutrition programs in schools have a significant impact on school-age children.