Akerele, Stephen Segun & Agbonlahor Nafisa Loveth,
Dept of Human Kinetics & Health Education
Faculty of Education, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State.
Abstract
The recent National School Health Policy (NSHP) and implementation guideline, government has much concerned and attention to school health education mainly to appraise, protect and promote the health of the school population most especially the school children physical, emotional and mental hazards as well as communicable diseases which are very rampant during the school period. The Nigerian government has consistently made concerted efforts at addressing the school health education in academic environment. The context of this therefore, is to address the contemporary challenges of school health education (SHE) in Nigeria. The concept of school health education and the challenges of school health education in Nigerian and their corresponding solutions where critically highlighted. Various government intervention strides in promoting health education in Nigeria as well as the functions, of school health education were discussed. The paper further examined the statutory roles and responsibilities of school health personals. discussed The paper concluded that the school health education which includes health education, physical education and other curricular areas is an organized school curriculum helps to promote, protect and sustain the health conditions of staff and student in an academic environment. It is on the above premise that the paper recommended that government and other relevant stakeholders in health sector should provide adequate human and material resources that will help in training individuals to meet with various health knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP). Also, integration of the school management and the community members should be intensified in order to ensure the successful implementation of health policies and the organization of health education in schools should be accorded the required priority at all times.
Key Words: Community, Curriculum, Health education, Health promotion, School health.