Page 172 - EW October 2024

Teacher-2-Teacher

Why health education should

be mandatory in every school

DR. RAHUL MEHRA

OST INDIANS BELIEVE WE ARE A healthy It’s very difficult to improve health habits
nation, given that yoga originated in India,
and because we host the highest percentage of the average Indian adult. Therefore
Mof vegetarians in the world. But are we truly the long-term solution is to educate
healthy? According to WHO, the average number of
years an Indian can expect to live in “full health” without India’s children to develop healthy
disease and/or injury is merely 60 years. (cf. Japan 74 habits at a time when their minds are
years; China 69 years; Bangladesh 64 years). Compared
to other Asian countries, India’s health is clearly lagging. impressionable
Poor health limits capability of individuals to realise
their full potential, which impacts their happiness and USA. In the United Kingdom, physical and mental
quotient. India is ranked #126 out of 143 countries in health education starts in primary classes and social and
the 2024 Happiness Report of the United Nations. Poor reproductive health education in secondary schools. In
health hampers productivity which makes the economy the US, a comprehensive framework for improving the
less competitive globally. It pushes millions of people health of students has been developed by the government
below the poverty line and many families become and named Whole School, Whole Community, (WSWC).
bankrupt because of high medical expenses. Since school education is the responsibility of state
Why is India an unhealthy nation? Because there’s governments, they are encouraged to follow this model.
a high prevalence of infectious, heart, diabetes and But each state can determine which health topics are
lung diseases. About a third of adults have high blood mandatory. This is very similar to India, where the
pressure and a quarter are diabetic or pre-diabetic. It education curriculum is primarily controlled by state
is not unusual to hear about a young relative or friend governments with NCERT being an advisory body.
suffering a heart attack before turning 40. Such tragedies ue to poor health of the Indian population, the need
are the outcome of malnutrition, poor hygiene, air Dfor health education is much greater. Although
pollution, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, etc. there is a government-initiated school health education
When an average Indian falls ill, she has limited access to programme named Ayushman Bharat, it has several
quality healthcare. Although India is a hub of world-class shortcomings. There are no textbooks for students,
hospitals and doctors, medical care is very expensive. overburdened teachers are expected to teach health
What’s the solution? The primary goal should be to programmes, and there is no student assessment
prevent diseases by developing healthier lifestyle habits. to evaluate the impact of the health curriculum.
Of course, we need good doctors and hospitals when we Unfortunately, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020
fall ill or suffer injury. In Japan, healthy lifestyle habits does not mandate comprehensive health education in
are an integral part of people’s culture. Their food is schools, only a physical health development programme.
healthy, and they maintain utmost hygiene in their daily Against this backdrop, Tarang Health Alliance, a
lives. That is why they live in “full health” for 74 years, 14 Delhi-based not-for-profit NGO, has developed and is
years more than Indians. Unfortunately, healthy lifestyle implementing a comprehensive physical, mental and
habits are not ingrained in our culture. social health programme for middle school (class VI-
Indeed it is difficult to improve health habits of the VIII) students. We have developed a curriculum with
average Indian adult. Lack of daily physical activity, text and workbooks for children in the 11-13 age group.
addiction to sugary/salty foods and tobacco is ingrained Improvement in health knowledge and behaviour is
in our brains. Therefore, the long-term solution is to assessed through questionnaires administered at the
educate India’s children to develop healthy habits, at beginning and end of the academic year.
a time when their minds are impressionable. Health All adults should press for health education in their
education needs to be formally introduced in schools like child’s or grandchild’s school. Please advocate the need
science or language. We need to teach our children why for health education to your school’s principal, Central or
and how to improve physical, mental and social health State board of education. We need to sow the seed now so
behaviours. This is distinct from students engaging in that in years ahead the number of years Indians can live
physical activity in schools, such as observing a sports in full health will increase to Asian norms.
period.
Although most developed countries offer health (Dr. Rahul Mehra is Chairman, Tarang Health Alliance (www.tarang-
education as a subject in schools, in some countries it is healthalliance.org), National Representative of India, UNESCO Chair, Global
mandatory. Among them are United Kingdom, Canada Health & Education)

172 EDUCATIONWORLD OCTOBER 2024