The Concept of Health Promoting Schools to Enhance Positive Youth Development

Abstract

The concept of Health Promoting Schools improves the school's physical and social environment, its curriculum, teaching and learning methods, and the personal and social development of students. It will enable the participating schools create a 'learning perspective', 'community perspective', and 'capacity building' environment to improve both educational and health outcomes of students. As the scheme promotes self-esteem of students, staff development, parental education, involvement of the whole school community and linkage with different stakeholders, it will also enhance positive youth development. It will help to shift the paradigm from handling crisis to prevention approaches emphasizing on youth support before problem behaviours occur, and also address the circumstances (families, schools, communities, peer groups) of youth's lives.