WHO INFORMATION SERIES ON SCHOOL HEALTH ... - PAHO/WHO

Promoting Physical Activity in Schools
3.2 Argument: Schools have the mandate and responsibility for enhancing all aspects of
development of children.
Although schools traditionally focus on the intellectual development of children and adolescents, emotional,
physical and social growth are equally important for the development of a child. In fact, emotionally stable
and physically balanced and fit schoolchildren show better academic performance, as mentioned in the
previous chapter.
Most schools have a mandate and thus responsibility to offer developmentally appropriate, adequate,
motivating, sufficiently supervised and safe physical activity programmes. These programmes should allow
participation of all students and work to enhance their physical, social and psychosocial well-being.
3.3 Argument: Schools should provide access to physical activity to all children.
School is also a unique setting where a large proportion of every successive age group can be familiarised
with different aspects of physical activity under qualified guidance (30). Although a small minority of young
people in a few countries are perhaps involved in expensive health clubs and fitness centres, a large proportion
of children do not have access to such facilities and may be inactive and possibly remain so into their
adulthood. It is thus the duty of schools to offer physical activity to every student.
This is particularly vital in regards to groups of students who do not seem to access standard opportunities
of physical education, such as disabled or overweight students or adolescent girls (53-56). Physical activity
among adolescent girls, for example, might not seem to be cultural appropriate in all societies, ethnic or
religious groups. Having said this, schools should be aware of their responsibility to all their students and
should take their stance on promoting physical activity to girls (57). Culturally sensitive solutions could entail
single-sex swimming or gym lessons.
3.4 Argument: Physical activity fosters collaboration between schools and other partners.
Organising physical activity events offers schools opportunities to collaborate with parents, representatives
of sport and other volunteer organisations, community officials, health care providers and the private sector.
Physical activity programmes provide schools an opportunity to enhance their integration in community
life gaining not only social but also financial benefits (58). Good collaboration helps raising funds and other
community resources to promote physical activity. Collaboration is a way for schools to increase the availability
and variety of physical activities for young people and maintain their accessibility and educational qualities
on a high level.
WHO Information Series on School Health 8