The Perceptions, Attitudes and Needs of School Administrators towards School Health Education

Objective To investigate the perceptions, attitudes and needs of primary and secondary school administrators towards school health education. Methods One hundred and three school administrators from 57 elementary and high schools of 6 provinces were surveyed using a personal interview technique. Results Most schools had health education classes. Some schools developed the plan for school health education and established a health education committee. Most administrators thought it was necessary for students to take health education class, and they were satisfied with the textbooks and its contents. Most of the administrators thought that communities across the nation were impercipient to the importance of teaching about health to school children and they were not trained for health education. Conclusions In order to promote school health education, it is essential to alter school administrators' minds to support of health education in schools. The health education committee should include students, parents and community members in addition to representatives of the school staff and administrators. Periodic and systematic training for the school administrators on health education would help to promote school health education.