Challenges and opportunities for health promotion in the school environment in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
Abstract
The text responds to current problems associated with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education in the Czech Republic and abroad and discusses the current situation based on the latest available information. Specifically, it focuses on the influence of this severe health threat on the societal perception of the importance of health promotion and safety in school education.
The COVID-19 pandemic constitutes a new milestone in formal and informal health and safety education development. Based on the results of research in the Czech Republic and abroad, the text demonstrates the need to expand activities to promote health and safety in schools in the future (in terms of ensuring physical, mental and social wellbeing), and thus the need to increase the number of lessons per week for health and safety education in the primary and lower secondary education curriculum.
We propose that the Framework Education Programme for Primary and Lower Secondary Educationin corporates (as part of the forthcoming revision) the necessary adequate changes aimed at broader health promotion both in the overall concept of school life and especially in the educational field, including health and safety topics.