Iceland has been working on the development and implementation of the Healthy School for many years. The national public health institute (The Directorate of Health) is responsible, and Ingibjörg Guðmundsdóttir is the national contact person. She represents her country in the Schools for Health in Europe (SHE) network. She does this as project manager and national coordinator.
The aim in Iceland is for all schools (preschool, compulsory education, upper secondary education) to become healthy schools. The approach is that a healthy school is part of a healthy municipality. The municipality must support an environment that promotes a healthy lifestyle for all residents and pupils.
The principles underlying the Icelandic Healthy School approach are:
- Active participation by all those involved, in all sectors and at all levels
- The work is based on the best available knowledge and experience
- Do no harm
- Equality in health, with attention to vulnerable groups
- Sustainability, that is, a long-term approach
The Directorate of Health works closely with the Ministry of Education. Other partners include teachers, universities, other ministries, primary healthcare, parent organisations, and the national association of municipalities.
Components of the Healthy School programme in Iceland are:
- The ‘whole school approach’
- An active role for pupils, parents and school staff
- Actively involving the school environment
- School health services
The implementation process is carried out step by step:
- Develop a health policy for the school
- Establish a steering committee
- Determine the starting situation
- Choose a priority
- Develop an action plan
- Evaluate
Relevant themes in compulsory education (ages 6–16) are: life skills, home, mental health, school staff, pupils, nutrition and oral health, the local environment, physical activity and safety.
An interactive website has been set up for schools, enabling them to track their results and progress regarding the Healthy School.
This article is based on a presentation
by Jenný Ingudóttir, an employee of The Directorate of Health.