Good physical and mental health is critically important to students’ ability to learn. Health education provides students with the self-regulatory skills and competencies they need to make healthy decisions and engage in health promoting behaviours.
Health
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48%
of elementary schools have a health and physical education teacher.
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95%
of Ontario’s students attend public school.
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99%
of all secondary schools report having a guidance counselor.
Health research
Strong health programs in school promote life-long health
Effective, evidence-based health education supports students in adopting healthy lifestyles from an early age. It helps them manage risks, and provides them with the skills and competencies they need to engage in health promoting behaviours.
The global movement to global competencies
For future success, students need competencies that extend beyond the 3Rs into areas like creativity, health, social-emotional learning, and citizenship. Education systems around the world are starting to embed these competencies into school curriculum.
Can schools help alleviate mental health concerns?
A new report raises concerns about how Canada is addressing mental health problems among young people. Schools are the ideal place to promote mental health and provide support for students with mental health issues.
Parents can make a difference in their children’s success
People for Education reviewed over 30 years of research and identified four key things parents can do to help their children succeed, both academically and in the development of health, citizenship, creativity, and social-emotional competencies.
Back to school…back to basics?
While Ontario’s schools are doing well in teaching “the basics”, students need a broader set of skills, not only to master these ‘basics’, but to ensure that they can thrive in the future.
National report finds teachers increasingly experience violence in schools
A recent study by the Canadian Teachers’ Federation suggests an increasing amount of teachers across Canada are seeing a rise in both the rate and severity of violence in schools.
2018 Annual report on schools: The new basics
People for Education's Annual report on Ontario’s publicly-funded schools is an audit of the education system – a way of keeping track of the impact of funding and policy choices in schools across the province.…
Province to fund mental health workers in schools
By 2020, most high schools will have their own mental health worker.
Beyond the 3R’s: Competencies that matter
Students need more than the 3Rs to be successful in school and in life. Health, citizenship, social-emotional, and creativity competencies are the ‘survival skills’ for the 21st century.
Insights for system change
How can our public education system support students' development of competencies in creativity, citizenship, health, and social-emotional learning?
Tips for parents:
Health and Physical Education
All students are required to take Health and Physical Education (HPE) from Kindergarten through Grade 8. Students must also earn one high school credit in HPE in order to graduate. Find out more about what students are learning, and why this is an important part of their education.
In the news
Toronto Star: School guidance counsellors ‘stretched’ amid rising mental health needs
People for Education's new report finds students have limited access to school guidance counsellors at a time when transition/career planning is more complicated and students' mental health needs are increasing.
New report highlights competing priorities in education
People for Education's annual report on Ontario’s schools shows decline in library staff and music teachers; improvements in Indigenous education.
New report reveals geographic divide in Ontario schools
People for Education releases 19th Annual Report on Ontario’s Publicly Funded Schools.