Integration of School Health and Nutrition Program in Public Elementary Schools

Abstract

Introduction

Education and health go hand and hand. Children need to be healthy to be fit for the school. Sadly, too many children in the Philippines are afflicted by everyday ailments that impact largely on their physical and mental development and limit them from getting the most from their education. Therefore, this study is conceptualized focusing on the extent of integration of school health and nutrition programs in the public elementary schools in the Division of Urdaneta City, S.Y. 2015-2016 which is directed to the total development of the child's health.

Methods

The descriptive –correlation method of research was employed and the questionnaire checklist was used as data gathering for the public elementary school teachers. Frequency counts and percentages were used to determine the profile of the respondents. The t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson-r were used to determine the significant difference between the extent of integration of SHNP in the public elementary schools and the significant relationships between the extent of integration of the School Health and Nutrition Program in the public elementary schools and their profile variables.

Results

The public elementary school teachers have sufficient educational qualifications thereby making them proficient in integrating SHNP in teaching the different learning areas. The public elementary school teachers are good at integrating SHNP in teaching the different subjects. Regardless of the profile attribute of the respondent public elementary school teachers, their extent of integration of SHNP in their teaching the different learning areas are comparable. The extents of integration of SHNP in teaching the different learning areas by the respondent-teachers are not associated with the profile variables, except with the variable sex, in which the correlation is negative.

Discussions

The public elementary school teachers should continue improving themselves professionally by completing their master's degrees in reputable graduate schools. The good practices of integrating SHNP in teaching the different learning areas should be improved to level up to "highly integrated". More intensified training programs should be designed, formulated and implemented to upgrade the skills and competence of respondent-public elementary school teachers. Other studies should be conducted to look into other aspects of the integration of SHNP using other variables not covered in this study.