éducation

Participate in the second survey on the safe reopening of schools

Participate in the second survey on the safe reopening of schools

You are invited to complete the second survey on the safe reopening of schools and to share the survey within your network. The aim of the survey is to gather the experiences and opinions of education and health professionals about the processes in place in their countries and territories to reopen schools safely during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to keep them open.

We want to continue to form a bridge between the scientific data and the needs of people who are implementing national guidance and feeling the impact of the ongoing pandemic in schools and the surrounding communities. It will reflect on intersectoral working to date, and recommendations for moving forward.

The survey explores the public health measures that have been put in place in schools; communication of guidance at national and/or local level, and the facilitators or barriers to safe reopening. The survey should take 10-20 minutes to complete. It is a follow-up of the survey which was conducted in May/June 2020.

The survey is conducted by the UNESCO Chair and WHO Collaborating Center in Global Health & Education with the support of its consortium partners from ASCD, CHAIN, Education InternationalEUPHA Child and Adolescent Public Health, EUPHA Health PromotionGCU London, IAAH and their Young Professionals’ Network, IUHPE, NCD Child, UCA and the SHE Network.

More information and access to the survey link

Posted by Didier in News
Interactive WEBINAR: Education as a “social vaccine” against COVID-19

Interactive WEBINAR: Education as a “social vaccine” against COVID-19

On 10 December 2020 from 14.00-15.00 CET, the interactive webinar: Education as a “social vaccine” against COVID-19 will take place. The webinar is part of the Global Health & Education webinar series and organised by the UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education in collaboration with CHAIN (Centre for Global Health Inequalities Research), EuroHealthNet and Newcastle University. The webinar will be held in English.

Historically, pandemics have been experienced unequally with higher rates of infection and mortality among lower educated people, particularly in more socially unequal countries. Emerging evidence suggests that these inequalities are being mirrored today in the COVID-19 pandemic. Both then and now, these inequalities have emerged through the syndemic nature of COVID-19 — as it interacts with and exacerbates existing social inequalities in chronic disease and the social determinants of health.

During this webinar the experts: Professor Terje Andreas Eikemo, Professor of Sociology, Centre for Global Health Inequalities Research (CHAIN), Dept of Sociology and Political Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway, Professor Clare Bambra, Professor of Public Health, Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, United Kingdom and Caroline Costongs, Director of EuroHealthNet, Belgium will address the following questions :

  1. What are the inequalities rising from the pandemic and how is COVID-19 being experienced as a syndemic pandemic?
  2. How can we best protect our populations against the negative social, economic and health-related consequences of the current and future pandemics?
  3. What are the consequences for public health, economic and social policies?

To participate: Zoom link.

This webinar will also be broadcast live on our YouTube channel.

More information.

 

Posted by Didier in News
Webinar: Health, literacy and education in Persian speaking countries

Webinar: Health, literacy and education in Persian speaking countries

On 3 December 2020, 8.30-10.00 CET, 11.00-12.30 Iran, 12.00-13.30 AFT, 12.30-14.00 TJT the webinar “Health, literacy and education in Persian speaking countries: achievements, challenges and the link” will take place. It is the first webinar in Persian in the Global Health & Education webinar series.

Do we really acknowledge the health-education co-evolution in health promotion research, policy and practice?

Speakers from Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan will present a brief explanation of the importance of knowledge exchange and production within networks of different languages for the UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education. As well as the value of exchange of knowledge and experience among neighbouring countries. Furthermore, the speakers will share with the audience the current state of health and education in the 3 Persian speaking countries, the challenges and achievements and their perspectives about the way forward to achieve the joint goals of “health for all” and “education for all” through the “education for health and health for education” strategy.

The webinar will opened by:

  • Alireza Zali, Vice-chancellor of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran
  • Mojtaba Zeinivand, Deputy Minister of Education, Iran
  • Didier Jourdan, UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education, France

Speakers are:

  • Nastaran Keshavarz Mohammadi, School of Public Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran, Co-chair of the Scientific and Ethical committee, UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education
  • Abdul Jalal, M.A International Public Policy, M.A International Relations, External-Policy and Partnership Consultant, Aga Khan Cultural Services-Afghanistan
  • Nazira Sodatsayrova, Secondary School Teacher Educator, Tajikistan

They will address the following questions:

  1. What is the current status of health and education in the 3 countries?
  2. What is the local evidence for the link between health and education?
  3. What are the challenges in acknowledging the health-education co-evolution in health promotion research, policy and practice?

To participate: Zoom link

This webinar will also be broadcasted live on our YouTube channel

More information: bit.ly/webinar3DEC

Posted by Didier in News
Symposium: School Health as we confront COVID-19 in Asia

Symposium: School Health as we confront COVID-19 in Asia

On 2 November 2020, 13.15 – 14.45 JST, 5.15 – 6.45 CET, the Osaka University UNESCO Chair Global Health and Education and the Japanese Consortium for Global Health Research will organise the symposium “School Health as we confront COVID-19 in Asia. What have we learned and where do we go from here?” The symposium will be held in English and is part of the Joint Congress on Global Health 2020 in Osaka.

Speakers from seven Asian countries (Cambodia, China, Japan, Korea, Lao PDR, Nepal and Philippines) will present on the COVID-19 situation in their countries and the measures that have been taken in and affecting schools.

Chairs are, Beverley Anne Yamamoto, Osaka University, chair holder UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education and Jun Kobayashi, University of the Ryukyus, JC-GSHR.

ZOOM Webinar URL:
https://zoom.us/j/98411449783?pwd=enlUQXhPSU8rRWJubmFOK1hFa29TQT09
Webinar ID: 984 1144 9783Password: 789328

Please see the flyer for details of the program.

Posted by Didier in News
“Prioritizing the health and safety of students and educators through closer intersectoral collaboration” – Extraordinary Session of the UNESCO Global Education Meeting on Education post-COVID-19

“Prioritizing the health and safety of students and educators through closer intersectoral collaboration” – Extraordinary Session of the UNESCO Global Education Meeting on Education post-COVID-19

On 22 October, over 70 Member States adopted a Declaration in an online extraordinary session of the UNESCO 2020 Global Education Meeting expressing their commitment to protect national education financing and to implement measures to mitigate the devastating impact of the pandemic on students, families and school staff. As part of the technical discussion underpinning the adoption of the global Declaration, the UNESCO Chair in Global Health and Education was asked to participate in Breakout Session Theme 2 on re-opening schools safely.

In recent months, Professor Didier Jourdan, Dr Nicola Gray and Chair community members have written evidence- and practice-informed perspectives about safe school re-opening with partners including Sir Michael Marmot (UCL Institute of Health Equity), Mr Sean Slade (ASCD), and Dr Janet McDonagh (University of Manchester). The Chair also conducted a survey of professionals to explore their experience of providing education during the pandemic and of implementing school re-opening guidance issued by national or regional authorities.

Dr Gray, on behalf of the Chair, described the compelling evidence base supporting the ‘triple dividend’ of inclusive, equitable and sustainable secondary education – health for adolescents now, as future adults, and for their children – as the best investment that any government can make in its youth. We reported survey findings regarding the need for close collaboration between school teams, local authorities and families. We supported empowering adults in schools – to secure their rights to a safe workplace and, in turn, their responsibility to protect the setting from outside infection.

Dr Gray was specifically asked to respond to questions about supporting mental health as schools re-open, and optimising the return for children and youth with disabilities. Both issues demand effective inter-sectoral working between education and health, a view strongly shared by the contributors from Member States, reported back to the main session, and confirmed as a priority action in the Declaration (point 8).

Posted by Didier in News
High-level virtual meeting on schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic

High-level virtual meeting on schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic

The challenge of supporting effective schooling during the pandemic

On Monday 31 August, WHO/Europe organised an online high-level meeting with ministers of health from across the WHO European Region to exchange experiences, views and reflections on providing safe and effective schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Supporting effective schooling during the pandemic is essential for the health and well-being of children. Nevertheless, this is a real strategic challenge for education and health authorities, as countries seek to ensure a safe, friendly and educationally effective environment while controlling the transmission of the virus.

Initiated by a proposal of Dr. Roberto Speranza, Minister of Health of Italy, the meeting provided an opportunity for several Member States to present their experiences. Experts from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), WHO headquarters and WHO collaborating centres provided insights and facilitated the discussion.

 

The contribution of Prof. Jourdan and the UNESCO Chair

Prof. Jourdan took part to the expert’s round table and presented the WHO Collaborating Centre and UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education perspective on this issue. In the context of the COVID-19 crisis, the Chair has been very active both within the United Nations working group and in the production of articles, teaching tools and support for teachers at a national level.

A recent global survey done by the Chair in 42 countries showed states have a double role to make the crisis management at a school level possible:

  • Producing national guidelines
  • Supporting local capacity building

At this stage of the pandemic, Prof. Jourdan recalled should give priority to the operational methods of organisations – including effective testing, tracing and isolation procedures – and above all the educational quality issues. The main issue is to not longer focus on national instructions, but on collective action at local level to limit transmission. We need to ensure that all students – especially the most vulnerable – continue to learn.

It is not a question of simply implementing a protocol, but rather putting into practice, the practices best suited to the situation. To recognise the expertise of education professionals, to trust them and empower them to act. Securing the involvement of everyone locally – students, parents, local decision-makers, education and health professionals – is essential for success. We need to develop the necessary skills so that everyone is capable of adapting their behaviour. The participation of children and young people is a condition for success and requires a long-term effort.

A positive and responsible local approach to the return to school by families, school teams and health professionals is our best hope for the ongoing success of our children and young people.

These discussions will contribute to a summary paper being developed by WHO/Europe to provide a reference point and operational considerations for national education and health authorities planning and implementing effective schooling during the pandemic.

 

Posted by Didier in News
Videos and resources webinar “The COVID-19 pandemic: better aligning education and health” now available!

Videos and resources webinar “The COVID-19 pandemic: better aligning education and health” now available!

Many of you participated in the webinar “The COVID-19 pandemic: better aligning education and health” on Monday 13 July 2020. We would like to thank the guest speakers and all the participants for their excellent contributions. The videos and all the resources are now available on the dedicated web page.

This webinar was an opportunity to discuss the challenges and conditions necessary to better align education and health in the perspective of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of a global survey on the reopening of schools, as well as the EI Guidance on Reopening Schools and Educational Institutions were presented. The following three questions were answered:

  • What have we learned from the field about the successes and challenges of re-opening schools? by Nicola Gray, on behalf of UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education and International Association for Adolescent Health (IAAH)
  • How is Covid-19 affecting or changing education? by Sean Slade, Senior Director of Global Outreach ASCD
  • What is the perspective of the teacher’s profession on the pandemic? by Antonia Wulff, COVID 19 Policy Co-ordinator Education International (EI)

Looking forward to see you at the next Global Health & Education webinar! Learn more about the webinar series.

 

Posted by Didier in News