Cookies policy. What Is the Role of Teachers in Education?. National School Health and Nutrition Strategy, Nepal. 2014;4(1):9–17. Moreover, many key informants reported that students’ school enrolment, retention, and attendance rates increased after implementation of the SHN program. A few studies have also reported a lack of coordination between the two ministries while implementing school health programs [9, 12, 13]. Washington DC: The United States Agency for International Development; 2010. http://www.healthpolicyplus.com/archive/ns/pubs/hpi/1155_1_PIAT_Paper_Taking_the_Pulse_of_Policy_acc.pdf. Field Actions Sci Rep. 2009;3 https://journals.openedition.org/factsreports/306. In the present study, many key informants responded that after the project ended, such training was not conducted anymore. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. Google Scholar. 2014;8(8):e3007. Therefore, our findings warrant the need for regular and refresher training, and the establishment of training centers to generate trained manpower to implement the SHN program effectively and sustainably. (P23, school: Health and physical education teacher), We need basic training for all teachers. Teachers are increasingly being called upon to monitor the mental health and wellbeing of their pupils. Another role of special education teachers … World Health Organization. The school nurse’s role varies across countries. (P16, district level: Chief district officer, District Health Office). Park S, Lee EY, Gittelsohn J, Nkala D, Choi BY. Though the majority of the key informants from the central level and aid agencies stated that they have received different trainings, mixed responses were obtained from the key informants at the district level and schools. Many key informants further stated that the program improved students’ health status by reducing problems such as diarrhea, parasitic infections, anemia, blindness, and hearing loss. In the reassembling phase, we reassembled all the data under the same themes, codes, and sub-codes into different groups. Walt G. Health policy: an introduction to process and power. Lower numbers of NGOs or INGOs working in the education sector are involved in SHN program implementation. According to the key informants from aid agencies, district level, and schools, they conducted activities such as health education classes, child clubs, and extra-curricular activities to improve students’ health-related knowledge and behaviors. Evaluations have found that participation in staff health-promotion programs … Trop Med Health 47, 32 (2019). However, the coverage of the program activities has not reached many districts in the country [15, 17], and most of the support has been limited to the students of government schools [15, 17]. The National Association of School Nurses Standards for Professional School Nursing Practice includes a standard related to health education.“Standard XI. Therefore, we conducted a qualitative study to explore (1) the SHN program implementation, (2) its impact, and (3) challenges in Nepal. Furthermore, the program also brought positive changes in students’ nutritional behaviors, hygiene practices, and life skills. It is not sustainable. (P4, aid agency: SHN program senior coordinator). Despite the challenges, all the key informants in this study unanimously agreed to make efforts to increase the program sustainability, given its positive impact on students, schools, and communities. This document is available in the following languages: This document discusses a range of environmental conditions that exist in a variety of school environments. In 1995, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Global School Health Initiative and introduced the concept of Health-Promoting Schools (HPS) [8], which can be characterized as schools seeking to strengthen their capacity and enable a healthy environment in the schools [8]. Learning Assessments. Sexual Health Education in Schools. Only 11% of teachers felt they should be responsible for improving children’s mental health and yet this is an added responsibility currently placed on teachers. Policy implementation assessment tool: master interview guide. Majority of the participants from the central, aid agencies, and district level mentioned that there is a structural network from top to down, which included Department of Health Services (MOH), Department of Education (MOE), and different aid agencies at the national level, which were involved in program implementation. Teachers are best known for the role of educating the students that are placed in their care. This document reveals how nutrition interventions in schools benefit the entire community, and how healthy eating contributes to decreasing the risks of today's leading health problems. Besides, schoolteachers and child club members were trained to conduct health education sessions on SHN. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research, International non-governmental organizations, United States Agency for International Development. When I was in Dadheldhura, I visited one of the schools there. Correspondence to Rajbhandary J, Hart R, Khatiwada C. The children’s clubs of Nepal: a democratic experiment. Table 2 shows the major themes, codes, and sub-codes deduced from the thematic analysis, showing the linkage between program implementation, impact, and challenges during implementation. Factors influencing the National School Health Policy implementation in Lao PDR: a multi-level case study. Pommier J, Guével MR, Jourdan D. Evaluation of health promotion in schools: a realistic evaluation approach using mixed methods. Health Educ Res. WHO Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases (PND) Yin R. Qualitative research from start to finish. Challenges in developing health promoting schools’ project: application of global traits in local realm. The teacher also serves to open and neatly close activities and also give content feedback. J Sch Health. Kathmandu; 1999. https://cergnyc.org/files/2016/09/ChildClubsofNepal.pdf. Basch C. Healthier students are better learners: a missing link in school reforms to close the achievement gap. SUMMARY. At district level and schools, DOH, DOE, schools, health posts, local NGOs, FCHVs, youth clubs, and parents were actively involved. Bundy D. School health and nutrition: policy and programs. Some key informants even mentioned that in some schools, communities provided their support and took the initiative to conduct SHN activities, which suggests that communities can play a significant role in making the program sustainable. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-019-0159-4, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-019-0159-4. The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to all the key informants who participated in this study. Some key informants from the central level and aid agencies stated that at the central level, the members of the SHN network and government actively participated in regular meetings to share and discuss the SHN program strategies, activities, and achievements. A Child generally keeps a watch on the teacher’s life. Evaluation of the Florida coordinated school health program pilot schools project. Eventually, better access to hygiene and sanitation facilities improved students’ hygiene practices, and their improved hygiene practices were associated with positive health outcomes [18]. Many schools did not have sufficient physical infrastructures or facilities to implement the program efficiently. Food Nutr Bull. 2nd ed. At the central level, we are the active members of the SHN network. Health center staff is responsible for implementation of school health programme.2. In this study, almost all the key informants appreciated the SHN program implementation in schools and the positive impact it has on students, schools, and communities. According to many key informants in this study, a broad array of stakeholders was involved from the central level to schools in implementing the SHN programs based on the SHN strategy in the country. However, the key impediments in implementing the program included a lack of coordination between stakeholders, lack of resources, limited training opportunities, and doubts regarding the sustainability of the program. 2015;42(5):533–4. Some of them mentioned that they had received the training once, while some were not even aware of such training. The Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child, or WSCC model, is CDC’s framework for addressing health in schools. INTRODUCTION• School health is an important branch of community health. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1999. The program aims to improve the physical, mental, emotional, and educational status of school children in Nepal [15, 16]. Notes were also taken while interviewing. Some participants also appreciated providing tiffin boxes to students, after which many parents started sending tiffin from home in those tiffin boxes. None of the organizations go directly for the implementation of SHN. The United States Agency for International Development. Our previous quantitative study also showed that child clubs and special health classes were positively associated with students’ higher health knowledge scores and identified a positive association between better health and sanitation facilities and students’ improved hygiene practices [18]. At the central level, the ministry of education, ministry of health, national planning commission and different aid agencies are involved, while at grass root level district health office and education office, schools, school management committee, child clubs, parents, students unions, health posts etc. In some areas, communities were mobilized in SHN activities, leading to community awareness. are the main stakeholders actively involved." The first author then discussed themes, codes, and sub-codes with co-authors. Besides, a few respondents at the central level mentioned that the program could be sustainable if it is integrated into the government system. Table 1 shows the number of key informant interviews conducted from different tiers of stakeholders. New York: Springer; 2009. (P4, aid agency: SHNP senior coordinator), The program will be sustainable if it is integrated into the government system. They may be teaching a classroom about topics related to … The organizations publishing this document offer this publication as a useful tool to help shape a healthy, safe and friendly environment for all who live, learn and work in schools. School health nurse-role 1.health promotion & specific protection: Immunization of children Helping school authorities and teachers to plan mid-day meal which is cheap, nutritious, hygienical and supplemental. Psychol Health. General and special education teachers might break classes into smaller groups or stations to provide greater engagement opportunities. The School Health and Nutrition (SHN) program is a cost-effective intervention for resource-poor countries. 2015;30(2):285–97. In resource-limited countries, a lack of resources has been a crucial operational barrier to conduct the program [3, 12, 13]. The key informants from the aid agencies were involved in supporting the MOE and MOH to implement the program as well as in monitoring and supervising the programs implemented in the schools. The obvious roles health education teachers play in the community are those that are entrenched within a school setting. To increase knowledge and awareness of health promoting behaviours. The WSCC model is student-centered and emphasizes the role of the community in supporting the school, the connections between health and academic achievement and the importance of evidence-based school policies and practices. Health Education” lists eight measurement criteria specifying the role of the school nurse as a health educator in the school setting ().The standard states, “The school nurse assists students, families, the school … This document is part of the WHO Information Series on School Health prepared for WHO’s Global School Health Initiative and the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. The key informants represented four different levels: (1) central level and (2) aid agencies in Kathmandu valley and (3) district level and (4) schools in Siraha, Sindhupalchok, Syangja, and Kailali districts. (P9, central level: Director, Child Health Division). The School Health Program has helped to establish a link between professionals within the Family Health Strategy Program and teachers, who must be involved in work with teenagers given that the health education process requires an exchange of experiences and knowledge that must be shared among all the actors mentioned, including the family. Switzerland At the end of each interview, the interview notes were reviewed with each key informant to validate what he or she intended to convey. Cite this article. We had a meeting with parents and teachers and told the parents that we could just give them pipelines. Both the teacher and the teacher assistant facilitate the inclusion of students with special needs . The improved practices included hand washing, using soap while hand washing, and wearing clean school uniforms. 2014;14:1134. To improve the quality of the SHN program, generating evidence is essential. During the 4-year SHN project in Sindhupalchok and Syangja districts, teachers and staff from the District Education Office and District Health Office were trained once to conduct SHN program activities [37]. However, we interviewed key informants from different tiers including the central and district levels, schools, and aid agencies. But we are facing difficulties to expand the program because of financial problems. Many key informants from the aid agencies agreed that they have limited resources and could conduct only selected programs in some target districts. Article  We have seen many positive changes after this program. (P5, aid agency: SHNP head), Child clubs in schools organize Deusi-Bhailo program (cultural program) during Tihar festival and collect fund. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for elementary school teachers will be stable for the next decade at least. 2018;18(1):151. We have prevented kids from becoming blind after vision screening and referring them for further treatments. We distributed the 32 transcripts equally between two groups of co-authors. All the key informants in this study mentioned that the SHN program was successful in improving students’ general knowledge of health and nutrition. The School Health and Nutrition (SHN) program is a cost-effective intervention for resource-poor countries. (P29, school: SHN program coordinator, local NGO), We have qualitative data and reports, which showed students now want to come to school and don’t go back in a break. They suggested that good coordination between the stakeholders might help in generating resources. (P7, aid agency: SHNP former chief advisor), In the past, there used to be diarrhea epidemics but now there are no such incidents. We have obtained the ethical approval from The Research Ethics Committees of the Graduate School of Medicine at the University of Tokyo and Nepal Health Research Council. The open defecation decreased and more toilets were built. Health promotion programs for staff are designed to promote the physical, emotional, and mental health of school employees through health assessments, health education, health-related fitness activities, and employee assistance programs. The school nurse has a central management role in the implementation of the school health services program for all children and youth in the school. Health Promot Perspect. Furthermore, most of the key informants identified insufficient funds and lack of material resources as the major hurdles to implement a comprehensive and nationwide SHN program. However, some of the key informants from the central level and aid agencies mentioned that MOH was more active compared to the MOE. The SHN program has also shown short- and long-term positive impact on students’ attitude, practices, health, and academic outcomes worldwide [10, 32, 33]. We conducted a thematic analysis, an inductive approach, using the conceptual framework developed by USAID [28] to analyze the data from the in-depth interviews. Their perceptions are equally important to provide information on the factors influencing the implementation process and help to identify the gaps in such processes [9, 21]. This document is available in the following languages: The purpose of this document is to strengthen efforts to educate young people about family life, reproductive health, and population issues and to prevent related health problems, such as unintended and early pregnancies, HIV/STI, and sexual violence. (P7, aid agency: SHNP former chief advisor), Most of the organization and ongoing activities come from the health sector. Baidya P, Budhathoki C. Minimum package of school health and nutrition program. World Health Organization. Parents started sending tiffin to their kids in these tiffin boxes. 2 2 ... model of a school health program, consisting of the following basic components: (1) ... trained teachers provide health education. NewYork: United Nations Children’s Fund; 2012. https://www.unicef.org/publications/files/CFS_WASH_E_web.pdf. Students’ awareness on hygiene and sanitary practices has improved. A health promoting school is a school that constantly seeks to strengthen its capacity to promote healthy living, learning and working conditions. We also assured them about the confidentiality of the information they provided and the anonymity of their identity. (P4, aid agency: SHNP senior coordinator), Though a certain level of coordination exists between the stakeholders, I don’t see that extent of coordination even at the central level, which could generate resources. The Shanghai Declaration on Health Promotion has been endorsed by the participants of the conference. We employed this framework to identify themes, codes, and sub-codes from the data and analyzed them to understand the data patterns [29]. Kathmandu: Government of Nepal; 2006. Part of This is one good example of cooperation between school and community. Third, the key informants might have expressed the views that they thought we (investigators) wanted to hear, leading to social desirability bias. Position Statement. So I think it is a bit lacking in this part, which can be a challenge for the sustainability of the program (P5, aid agency: SHNP head). Therefore, key informants’ responses in this study may not represent stakeholders’ perceptions throughout the country. Some school nurses did not believe that health teaching in the classroom is a nursing role—they viewed health education in the classroom as a role for teachers. 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