The WHO Western Pacific Regional Office, the Japan Consortium for Global School Health Research (JC-GSHR), and the University of the Ryukyus will co-host a symposium to share the findings of the EDU-Port project. The symposium will be held under the theme “Study on Healthy and Safe Schools for the Post- COVID-19 Era in the Asia-Pacific Islands.”

Details of the symposium are as follows.

Organizers:

• University of the Ryukyus, Graduate School of Health Sciences
• Japan Consortium for Global School Health Research (JC-GSHR)
• World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WHO-WPRO)

The University of the Ryukyus, Graduate School of Health Sciences (UR), Japan Consortium for Global School Health Research (JC-GSHR), and the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WHO-WPRO) are jointly organizing a symposium entitled, “School Health Promotion in the Asia-Pacific Islands.” The symposium aims to identify key issues for the promotion of school health in Asia and the Pacific islands.

Investing in healthy schools offers an opportunity for children and adolescents to acquire the knowledge and skills to lead a healthier life in the future. WHO-WPRO’s Regional Framework on Nurturing Resilient and Healthy Future Generations in the Western Pacific establishes school health at the center of a collaborative partnership between the education and health sector to ensure good health in children and adolescents in the region. The Regional Framework supports countries and areas in the Region to achieve three goals:

1. Entrench healthy behaviors that stick
   1. Empower schools to influence their communities, utilizing a “spill-over” effect
   1. Invest in schools today to build a healthier tomorrow

To achieve these goals, the Framework details suggested actions for schools, governments to take, which can be adapted to country-specific contexts.

The University of the Ryukyus and the Japan Consortium for Global School Health Research (JC-GSHR) is leading a research collaboration project entitled, “Study on Healthy and Safe Schools for the Post- COVID-19 Era in the Asia-Pacific Islands.” The study aims to assess the implementation of school health policies and K-12 curriculum before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in selected Asia-Pacific countries. Specifically, it aims to (1) describe the school health related policies issued before and during the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) analyze the contents of the K-12 curriculum related to hygiene, mental health, nutrition/oral health, and ESD; (3) assess the implementation of school health policies related to mental health, hygiene, food and nutrition, and ESD during the COVID-19 pandemic; (4) determine the enablers and barriers encountered during the implementation of an online, modular or blended learning approach to K-12 education during the pandemic; and, (5) provide recommendations for the improvement of school health policies, curriculum, and educational strategies for a healthy and safe post-COVID-19 scenario in the region. In the symposium, research partners from the Philippines, Guam, Fiji and Tonga will share their experiences on school health promotion based on empirical data. The research collaboration’s goal is to contribute to WHO-WPRO’s effort of collecting data, research and case studies relevant to the Framework. This is to facilitate cross-country sharing of replicable local solutions and best practices

Chairs:

• Prof. Jun Kobayashi, University of the Ryukyus (UR) and Japan Consortium for Global School Health Research (JC-GSHR)
  • Dr. Shinjiro Nozaki, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WHO-WPRO)

Presentations:

Title of Presentation	Speakers
Opening address	UR/JC-GSHR WHO-WPRO
1. Regional Framework on Nurturing the Health of our Future Generations in the Western Pacific	Dr. Josaia Tiko World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific
2. Current Situation of School Health Policy in Selected Asian Countries	Dr. Calvin S. de los Reyes University of the Ryukyus and College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines - Manila
3. Experiences of School Health Promotion in Guam	Dr. Margaret Hattori-Uchima Prof. Maria Sandra Minas Cruz School of Nursing and Health Sciences University of Guam (Online)
4. Experiences of School Health Promotion in the Philippines	Dr. Ernesto R. Gregorio, Jr. Dr. Crystal Amiel M. Estrada College of Public Health, University of the Philippines - Manila
5. Experiences of School Health Promotion in Fiji	Mr. Mohammed Khalif National HPS Coordinator (Online)
6. Experiences of School Health Promotion in Tonga	Ms. Domidilla Batidreu Health Promoting Schools SSA (Online)
7. Enabler of School Health Policy Implementation in Low- and Middle-Income Countries	Ms. Fumiko Shibuya University of the Ryukyus and Japan Consortium for Global School Health Research
8. Forum	Prof. Jun Kobayashi University of the Ryukyus (UR) and Japan Consortium for Global School Health Research (JC-GSHR) Dr. Shinjiro Nozaki World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WHO- WPRO)

Symposium format:

The symposium will follow a hybrid format, with on-site and online presentations. Each of the speakers will be asked to prepare a 10-minute presentation, to be followed by a 20-minute forum.