Archives

by Fathima Razik

The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has ambitious and well-laid out plans to arrest the many social ills that the citizens (of Colombo) face and is geared to implement its plan of action commencing end January 2003.

The CMC and its Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam and his team, have done an in-depth study of situations faced by children in schools, on domestic violence, suicide prevention, mosquito control, air pollution, water pollution, food contamination and drug abuse amongst many other issues that need attention. With the assistance of the Medical Faculty of the University of Colombo and the World Health Organisation (WHO), the first project entitled "Healthy Schools" is scheduled to be launched in a few weeks.

The city of Colombo has more than one hundred and fifty schools and most leading schools in the whole of Sri Lanka fall within its Municipal limits. At any given time, there are more than two hundred thousand students attending primary and secondary establishments in the city. Studies have revealed that most of these students are from the suburbs and from different social backgrounds. But the problems faced by these students attending Colombo city schools are common - the environment within and without lack the most basic amenities. In addition, the aspect of "a healthy psychological environment" is also found wanting.

To elaborate - basic amenities constitute the physical and the aesthetic - healthy environment inside the classroom talking ergometrics into consideration and manageable number of students in each class, clean and friendly environment outside, landscaped ares safe playgrounds clean and dry toilets. Safe and clean food and drinking water from school canteens are also absolutely necessary. A healthy psychological environment would mean that classrooms are devoid of bullying and ragging thereby ensuring emotional stability of the child. In addition, peaceful and friendly interaction between school authorities teachers, students and parents will contribute in no small measure towards the desired environment in a school. This then is a "Healthy School".

According to Dr. Kariyawasam, the relationship between a schools physical appearance and the psychological aspects are not given due consideration - an important factor that's almost always overlooked. Most parents are only keen to admit their child to school and thereafter do not devote any attention to these important aspects which contribute towards the overall well-being and scholastic performance of the child.

It is to uplift and sustain healthy standards in all areas of a school and its functions that this project was planned. Initially, all schools will be written to, to seek their response and subsequent participation in the programmes lined up. Seminars will be conducted in four stages. In the first instance, it will be for principals and deputies, secondly for teachers, then for PPAs / OBAs / OGAs / PTAs / SDCs and other bodies and finally for students and office-bearers of student bodies.

The objectives of this project will be highlighted at the seminars. In order to achieve a healthy school environment, the programs aim to stress the importance of the co-operation and active participation for all concerned. The mechanisms for implementation will include a working group consisting of officials of the Public Health Department of the CMC, the Department of Education, representative body of institutional heads, NGOs and private sector organisations. The Public Health Department of the CMC, the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Colombo and schools' principals will form the core group.

A Consultant Paediatrician, Consultant Physician and a Consultant Psychiatrist will also be closely associated with the core group and its functions. Statistics reveal that only 3 per cent of students who qualify at the O'levels enter universities.

That leaves 97 per cent who require proper guidance to take on rewarding careers. Discipline, therefore, plays a major role in guiding a student to nurture and maximise her/his talents and aptitudes in order that she/he will turn out to be a model citizen. In order to help a student gain the maximum during her/his school career, a healthy environment is a sine quo non. An idea that will be put up for discussion is the need or otherwise of the school tie - favoured by many girls' schools.

Comfortable school uniforms will be advocated considering the temperature we live in. Added to which the situation regarding the over-crowding of classrooms as against the numbers admitted perhaps thirty years ago as the sizes of the classrooms remain the same. It has been noticed that new school buildings tend to have smaller classrooms - once again contributing towards an unhealthy environment. Students are then heard to complain of headaches, lose concentration or lack of same, feeling unwell - all of which lead to poor performance in the school. The school-private sector partnership will offer the private sector the opportunity to demonstrate its social responsibility towards the environment in which it operates. This move will ensure the sustainability of this project in the long term.

Healthy Schools - a concept not new in many developed countries and implemented to meet the needs of such countries, will in Sri Lanka, have the blessings and support of the World Health Organisation. The assistance of UNICEF will also be sought. The Public Health Department of the CMC will document the concept and the experience derived in its implementation which will then be shared with the Department of Education for implementation in other parts of Sri Lanka and perhaps, to other cities in the developing countries.

This unique programme also has a rewards scheme through a process of marking, based on certain criteria. The Public Health Department of the CMC is of the view that though most leading schools have the basic infrastructure, they however, fall short in the areas of environmental health and sanitation.

Phase 1 will cover all national, private and international schools.

Phase 2 will cover all schools where the students number over 500.

Phase 3 will cover all other schools. In addition, there will also be competitions amongst national schools, private schools, international schools and other government school at district level (Colombo). These competitions will help choose the "Healthiest School" amongst those schools.

The Public Health Department will urge schools to pay attention to and lay emphasis on the following points which will be the formulae adopted to be certified as a Healthy School.

1. A healthy school policy

a. Providing desks and chairs according to the height of the child.

b. Children with poor vision should sit in the front row.

c. Limiting the number of students in each class also taking into consideration the size of the class. d. Policy to ban corporal punishment.

e. Promoting brotherhood/ sisterhood amongst pupils and forming anti-bullying groups in classrooms.

f. Provide safe and clean food and water in canteens with trained staff to handle food. (The area MOH to certify same).

g. Limit the weight (books) a child has to carry to school.

h. Promote re-cycling within the school.

i. Involve children and parents in "shramadana" campaigns.

2. A healthy environment inside classrooms/building

a. Interior to be swept, dusted and washed/ mopped.

b. Walls to be colour-washed in light colours.

c. Proper ventilation.

d. Adequate light within the classrooms/building.

e. Clean and dry toilet facilities.

3. A clean and friendly external environment

a. No overgrown vegetation.

b. Prevent mosquito breeding.

c. No blocked drains.

d. Clean Gutters.

e. No haphazard dumping of garbage.

f. Landscaped "Green" environment.

4. Peaceful interaction

a. Promoting harmony amongst all pupils.

b. Shun violence.

c. Promote anti-bullying/anti-ragging.

d. Ban corporal punishment.

e. Prevent child abuse.

5. Safe playground / recreation area

a. Schools to have adequate open areas for games and recreation.

b. Such areas to be safe, clean and meet the needs of the children.

c. Availability of shady areas.

d. The surface should be such that it can break a fall.

e. Areas for sports to be demarcated/fenced where necessary to prevent mishaps and accidents.

f. Suitable play equipment be made available taking into consideration the various stages of development of the children.

Schools will be regularly monitored, assisted, guided and encouraged in order that they fulfill stipulated criteria. In view of the rewards scheme that goes with this project, schools will be required to achieve 80 marks to be awarded a certificate as a "Healthy School".

However, schools will be required to get a minimum of 50 per cent of the marks in all the groups. The Chief MOH, Deputy Chief Medical Officers, District Medical Officers of Health and Officials from the Department of Education will oversee and monitor the operational aspects of the project and will eventually, do the final evaluation at the end of the year.

This unique concept, mooted by Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam, is cost-effective, affordable, participatory and self-rewarding. Scheduled to be implemented and completed within a stipulated time frame, this interesting project - the first of its kind in Sri Lanka - should arouse the interest of school authorities, staff, students and parents and is sure to bring about tangible and positive results not only to achieve a "Healthy School" certificate but a "Healthy Mind" in all students who will be the next generation of leaders in Sri Lanka.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager