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Children and young people who receive a good quality education are more likely to be healthy, and those who are healthy are better able to learn.

Globally, learners face a range of challenges that stand in the way of their education, their schooling and their futures. A few of these are related to their health and well-being. Estimates show that some 1 in 3 learners face physical violence in school and 73 million children live in extreme poverty, food insecurity and hunger. Pregnancy related complications are the leading cause of death among girls aged 15-19, and the COVID-19 pandemic has vividly highlighted the unmet needs of learners and their mental health.

UNESCO works to promote the physical, mental health and well-being of all learners in and through their education by reducing health-related barriers to learning, such as gender inequality, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), early and unintended pregnancy, violence and discrimination, and malnutrition.

The link between education to health and well-being is clear. Education develops the skills, values and attitudes that enable learners to lead healthy and fulfilled lives, make informed decisions, and engage in positive relationships with everyone around them. Poor health can have a detrimental effect on school attendance and academic performance.  that are safe and inclusive for all children and young people are essential for learning.

show that higher levels of education among mothers improve children’s nutrition and vaccination rates, while reducing preventable child deaths, maternal mortality and HIV infections. Maternal deaths would be reduced by two thirds, saving 98,000 lives, if all girls completed primary education. There would be two thirds fewer child marriages, and an increase in modern contraceptive use, if all girls completed secondary education.

At UNESCO, education for health and well-being refers to resilient, health-promoting education systems that integrate school health and well-being as a fundamental part of their daily mission. Only then will our learners be prepared to thrive, to learn and to build healthy, peaceful and sustainable futures for all.

91Â鶹¹ú²ú¾«Æ·×ÔÅÄ a long-standing commitment to improve health and education outcomes for learners. Guided by the  UNESCO envisions a world where learners thrive and works across three priority areas to ensure all learners are empowered through:

• school systems that promote their physical and mental health and well-being
• quality, gender-transformative comprehensive sexuality education that includes HIV, life skills, family and rights
• safe and inclusive learning environments free from all forms of violence, bullying, stigma and discrimination

Through its unique expertise, wide network and a range of strategic partnerships, UNESCO supports tailored interventions in educational settings at regional and country levels, benefiting learners from primary to tertiary education levels. Key areas of actions include:  at global level, and targeted and holistic action at national levels such as the Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3) programme; joint efforts through the Global Partnership Forum for comprehensive sexuality education and the School-related gender-based violence working group; guidance on school health and nutrition; advocacy around the International Day against violence and bullying at school; capacity-building and knowledge generation such as the .

UNESCO is committed to making health education appropriate and relevant for different age groups including young learners and adolescents, thus working closely with and meaningfully engaging young people and youth networks. In primary school, children aged 5-12 face evolving and age-specific health and well-being needs as well as a period of cognitive, physical and social development during which building foundations for health and well-being is key. Adolescence (ages 10-19) is seen as ‘a critical window of opportunity to invest in education, skills and competencies; with benefits for well-being now, into future adult life, and for the next generation’ and a time when schools should impart healthy habits that will empower adolescents to become healthy citizens. For example,  is an initiative aiming to improve the health and well-being of young people in the Eastern and Southern Africa region.

Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is  to advance gender equality, healthy relationships and sexual and reproductive health, all of which have been shown to positively improve education and health outcomes.

At UNESCO, CSE is a curriculum-based process of teaching and learning about the cognitive, emotional, physical and social aspects of sexuality. It offers life-saving knowledge and develops the values, skills and behaviours young people need to make informed choices for their health and well-being while promoting respect for human rights, gender equality and diversity. CSE empowers learners to realize their health, well-being and dignity, develop respectful relationships and understand their sexual and health rights throughout their lives. Effective CSE is delivered in an age-appropriate manner.

Without correct knowledge on sexual and reproductive health, learners face risks directly impacting their education and future. For example, early and unintended pregnancy increases the risk of absenteeism, poor academic attainment and early drop-out from school for girls, while also having educational implications for young fathers.

Through its O3 flagship programme, UNESCO contributes to the health and well-being of young people in Africa by reducing new HIV infections, early and unintended pregnancy, gender-based violence, and child and early marriage. The O3 programme has benefitted over 28 million learners so far and the O3 Plus, programme builds on this with a focuson young people in tertiary education.

±«±··¡³§°ä°¿â€™s&²Ô²ú²õ±è;Foundation for Life and Love campaign (#CSEandMe) highlights the benefits of good quality CSE for all young people. Because CSE is about relationships, gender, puberty, consent, and sexual and reproductive health, for all young people.

Following the recent health pandemic shocks, the world became witness to the importance of schools as lifelines for learners’ health and well-being. Schools can provide essential health education and services including meals, identify signs of mistreatment or violence, protect girls from unintended pregnancy and early marriage, establish links to health services, foster social connections and promote physical activity.

These crises illustrated the interlinkages between education and health, and the urgent need to work across sectors to advance the interests of future generations,  education systems to prevent, prepare for and respond to health crises. 

They also highlighted learners’ unmet need for support around their mental health. While we know that schools are places of learning, it is becoming increasingly clear that they also have a role to play in promoting health and well-being in learning.

Learners’ mental health and well-being is an integral part of UNESCO’s work on health education and the promotion of safe and inclusive learning environments. UNESCO provides technical support to countries to strengthen education sector capacities to protect and promote learners' mental health and psychosocial well-being.