Student Health Service - Whole School Health Programme

Background

The Health Promoting School (HPS) framework promulgated by the World Health Organization aims to strengthen a school's capacity as a healthy setting for living, learning and working through a concerted effort of all its members and the community. The framework has been adopted in many countries and places around the world. It is found to be effective to improve the physical, mental and social health of the students in school settings.

Student Health Service of the Department of Health (DH) launched the HPS Programme as a pilot project in thirty local primary and secondary schools to explore the feasibility of extending the HPS model in Hong Kong from 2019 to 2023. Taken into consideration the opinions of stakeholders from various sectors and the results of the evaluation, DH continues to promote the HPS programme in the 2023/24 school year and renamed the programme as “Whole School Health Programme”. DH aims to provide professional guidance to participating schools in carrying out school-based health promotion work in a more comprehensive and effective manner under the HPS model.

Whole School Health Programme (Since September 2023)

The word “Whole” coveys the core value of the “Whole School Health Programme (全校園健康計劃)” in three perspectives, namely a whole-school approach, comprehensive health information, and a long-term development. The programme name resonates with the advocacy of multi-stakeholder engagement, diverse health themes including Healthy Eating, Physical Activity, Mental Health and Social Well-Being, and sustainability of health promotion in school setting.

A smiley face Emoji with jelly-shiny touch was devised in the Logomark and built into the word “Whole” in the Logo design of the programme. It represents a smile and expression of satisfaction of human being. Creating a positive and welcoming tone that appeals to all individuals, the Logomark and design elicit a sense of unity, partnership, and enthusiasm of the programme. All these symbolic meanings are also reflected in the programme slogan – “Whole School, Whole Health”.

Launching Ceremony of the "Whole School Health Programme" (with video) - June 2023

Action Plan of “Whole School Health Programme”

Participating schools are required to sign the "Whole School Health Charter" and commit to formulate strategies to promote health under the "Health Promoting School framework” according to school-based needs. Schools are able to join different school categories of the programme, namely, “Pledged Schools”, “Action Schools”, and “Advanced Schools”, in accord to their school-based experience, developmental plan and available resources.

2023/2024 Enrolled School List of the Whole School Health Programme (As of January 31, 2024 ) pdf

Please click here to contact us for enquiry.