This blog post was written by Carly, a Primary Education student. This blog post aims to provide the reader with an understanding of a teacher's role in the education of children, and how a teacher can influence good health and wellbeing. Overall, showing the relationship between Primary Education and the overall achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3 - Good Health and Wellbeing.
Education Perspective (1)
The role of Education is essential to achieving SDG3. In the classroom, children are educated from a young age about how to be healthy both physically and mentally. Furthermore, children are exposed to a variety of discussions surrounding health, including nutrition, disease prevention, physical growth and development, reproduction, mental health, drug and alcohol abuse, consumer health and safety (Teaching Health Education in School, 2009). At primary level, children develop the applicable abilities to express their feelings in a healthy way, managing emotional and physical stress and seeking assistance if necessary (SDG Resources for Educators - Good Health and Wellbeing, 2021). Therefore schools must have suitable facilities and resources as well as trained teachers who are able to help children with their health and wellbeing. This reveals the importance of education in achieving SDG3 as teachers have a responsibility to educate children from a young age on these aspects in order to help them achieve good health. It is important that schools educate children on where they can access help for both their physical and mental wellbeing if needed. In order to do this, schools must create a safe space for children to speak to members of staff about their health and wellbeing. Indeed, in February 2021, it was reported that £6.5 million annually would be provided to support mental health and wellbeing within the Education Sector ("Children and Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing in Education Framework launched", 2021). This will include counselling services in primary schools, REACH Programme- which provides schools with support to promote good mental health and a wellbeing strategy for staff to help take action and invest in their mental and physical wellbeing. ("Children and Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing in Education Framework launched", 2021). These measurements being implemented demonstrate the importance of creating a safe environment for children where they are aware of the help they can receive as without the school providing this support, children may struggle with both their mental and physical wellbeing.
When looking at the Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland, great importance is placed on the health and wellbeing of pupils, as teaching this results in children developing the knowledge and understanding, skills, capabilities and attributes which they need for mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing both now and in the future (Curriculum for Excellence: health and wellbeing", 2021). For each stages in school (early, first, second, third and fourth) there are specific experiences and outcomes that a child is expected to achieve. Therefore it is a teachers responsibility to implement relevant experiences and outcomes into the classroom in order to ensure that children have the required tools to develop their mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing.
Overall, it is clear that education is vital to achieving SDG3 as teachers have a key role and responsibility in educating children on good health and wellbeing. This is because without receiving this knowledge in schools, there are many children who may otherwise not be exposed to this information, which can largely affect them as they grow older. Furthermore, it is essential that children are taught from a young age about health and wellbeing to ensure that they can access resources and advice when necessary.
References
UNESCO (2019) ‘SDG Resources for Educators - Good Health and Wellbeing’
Accessed 04-02-2021
Available at: https://en.unesco.org/themes/education/sdgs/material/03.
Scottish Government (gov.scot) ‘Curriculum for excellence: health and wellbeing, experiences and outcomes’ (2021)
Accessed 04-02-2021
Available at: https://education.gov.scot/Documents/health-and-wellbeing-eo.pdf.
Healthychildren.org (2009) ‘Teaching Health Education in School’.
Accessed 06-04-2021
Available:https://healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/gradeschool/school/Pages/Teaching-Health-Education-in-School.aspx.
Northern Irish Government (2021) ‘Children and Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing in Education Framework launched’.
Accessed 06-04-2021
Available at: https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/news/children-and-young-peoples-emotional-health-and-wellbeing-education-framework-launched.
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