School Health Education Program

Key Contextual Factors

• The bodies responsible for implementing the program are: the Ministries of Health (General Directorate of Public Health and Addictions) and Education and Culture (GD Educational Innovation and Attention to Diversity); the town councils and the Murcia Health Service collaborate.
• Target population within the program included compulsory and non-compulsory schools: infant, primary and secondary education, basic vocational training, lifelong education and special education.
• The primary health care service portfolio in Murcia included the Health Education School Service to promote the involvement of health professionals in educational activities.

Key Components/Steps

• 2005 ministry of health published the “Educational Plan for schools in the region of Murcia 2005-2010”.
• 2014 ERDF/ESF Operational Programme 2014-2020.
• Registration of educational centers to the programme.
• Investigation and analysis of the situation in relation to the SSR of the affiliated centers.
• Implementation of the program: working group, prioritization of objectives, proposal for activities, planning evaluation, resource requirements, participation, etc.
• In a transversal way (promoted by the educational and health administrations) develop cross- curricular actions (elaboration of educational materials) and teacher training (compulsory and non-compulsory school) by health professionals (medical doctor, nurses and psychologist).

Main Impacts / Added Value

In particular, the implementation of health education projects in schools:

• facilitates coordination between the different stakeholders and defines the roles of each of them, which are essential for the development of effective interventions and programs to promote health education in schools.
• provides educational resources and awareness-raising materials through the Health Promotion and Education Resources (Department of Health).
• to improve the health-related behaviors of students, resulting in a health benefit for families and community.

Lessons Learned

To develop the Educational for All (EFA) in schools effectively, it is necessary:

• Improve coordination between education and health sectors. Enact favorable regulations.
• A person in charge at school who promotes it and a working group dedicated to its development, with time to coordinate.
• Management teams that promote the participation of the educational community in health education projects, as well as coordination with initiatives from other programs (for instance: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/dyna/bp-portal/practice.cfm?id=377).
• Calls for educational projects with economic endowment, which must have sufficient duration, quality and evaluation indicators.
• Training of teaching and socio-health professionals in health education.
• Sufficient and quality educational resources and materials (for instance: https://www.murciasalud.es/pagina.php?id=123657).

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