Development of the Whole School Health Programme
Taking reference to the "Health Promoting School (HPS)" framework advocated by the World Health Organization, the Whole School Health Programme assists schools in systematically reviewing and formulating health promotion measures related to physical activity, healthy eating, mental health and social well-being, and gradually becoming a healthy setting for living, learning and working.
Health Promoting School Advisory Committee
Department of Health (DH) established a cross-sectoral multi-disciplinary Health Promoting School Advisory Committee to advise the Government on the planning and implementation of the Whole School Health Programme (WSHP) and the development of the Health Promoting School (HPS) model in Hong Kong. Health Promoting School Programme (Pilot Project)
Student Health Service of the Department of Health launched the Health Promoting School Programme as a pilot project in 30 local primary and secondary schools from the 2019/20 to 2022/23 school years to provide professional guidance to participating schools in carrying out school-based health promotion work according to the HPS framework, to explore the feasibility of extending the HPS model in Hong Kong. Whole School Health Programme (WSHP)
Department of Health (DH) established a cross-sectoral multi-disciplinary Health Promoting School Advisory Committee to advise the Government on the planning and implementation of the Whole School Health Programme (WSHP) and the development of the Health Promoting School (HPS) model in Hong Kong. Health Promoting School Programme (Pilot Project)
Student Health Service of the Department of Health launched the Health Promoting School Programme as a pilot project in 30 local primary and secondary schools from the 2019/20 to 2022/23 school years to provide professional guidance to participating schools in carrying out school-based health promotion work according to the HPS framework, to explore the feasibility of extending the HPS model in Hong Kong. Whole School Health Programme (WSHP)
- DH has regularised the HPS Programme since the 2023/24 school year and renamed it “Whole School Health Programme” with the slogan "Whole School, Whole Health”.
- Following with the 4Rs Mental Health Charter (4Rs Charter) launched by the Education Bureau (EDB) in the 2024/25 school year, schools signing the 4Rs Charter would simultaneously sign up for DH’s WSHP as a Pledged School. Details of the 4Rs Mental Health Charter are set out in the EDB Circular Memorandum No. 60/2024 。
- “The Chief Executive‘s 2024 Policy Address” set out to strengthen and extend the Whole School Health Programme (WSHP) to cover all primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong. Health reports will be compiled for each participating school to recommend school-based health promotion measures.
“Whole School Health Programme” Content and participation
World Health Organization video trailer - Making every school a health-promoting school ( Authorized translated to Chinese version)
- The WSHP covers four health themes: physical activity, healthy eating, mental health and social well-being. DH has devised a guideline and a checklist adapted from the WHO’s HPS framework for action comprising six key domains, namely (1) healthy school policies, (2) school’s physical environment, (3) school’s social environment, (4) community links, (5) action competencies for healthy living, and (6) school health care and promotion services. Participating schools are required to sign the "Whole School Health Charter" and commit to formulate strategies to promote health under the HPS framework according to school-based needs. Participating schools are classified as “Pledged Schools”, “Action Schools”, and “Advanced Schools” based on their school-based experience, development pace and available resources etc.
