The following are the main aims and objectives of health education in schools:-
- To provide information about health and hygiene
It aims at acquainting the pupils and the teachers with the functioning of the body, the rules of health and hygiene and the precautionary measures for warding off disease. It is to be notice of the pupils how bad habits, unhygienic ways of living, addiction to smoking and liquor and such unhealthy practices, result in evil consequence.
- To Maintain norms of good health
It helps the school authorities to keep certain norms of health in school. A number of programmes of good health, develop in the pupil sufficient habits of hygienic living, hygienic surroundings such as cleanliness etc.
- To take precautionary and preventive measures
Its aim is to take adequate precaution against contamination and spread of diseases. So good sanitary arrangements are made. Urinals and toilets are kept clean. Sweeping is done daily, and the rooms and the furniture are kept near and tidy. The eatables in the tuck-shop are saved from flies.
- To take curative measures
Remedials action against disease is also taken. A physico-medical check-up is made deformities. Disabilities and disease detected, and remedial measures suggested. A good number of pupils suffer from myopea. An eye-examination reveals the extent of short-sightedness. If glasses are not used in time, myopea will increase rapidly. Some pupils have bad teeth. If they suffer from pyorrhea, immediate medical treatment is needed.
- To develop and promote mental and emotional health
Mental and emotional health are also equally necessary in the school health programmes. While physical health makes a pupil physically fit, mental and emotional health enables him to maintain an even temper and happy deposition.
- To develop a sense of civic responsibility among pupils.
These is little sense of civic responsibility in our students. They generally fail in their duty to help their fellow students in particular and other persons in general. They do not come to the aid of others in time of need and alleviate their sufferings. So, one of the objective of health education is to cultivate a sense of civic responsibility. Through health education, pupils are to be made conscious of social crimes, like spitting anywhere, sneezing and coughing on the faces of others.