Healthy lifestyle, promoted by the Ministry of Education

The Ministry of Education has initiated or expanded several programs aimed at integrating education for a healthy lifestyle both theoretically and practically. Minister Ligia Deca participated together with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, the Ministers of Health and the Family and the representative of UNICEF Romania, at the event "Romanian Government for Health - the future is built today! The health of a nation starts from the health of our children". According to Ligia Deca: "The framework plans and school programs for the gymnasium bring a new perspective on the healthy lifestyle, both through contents and teaching methods. We have the discipline "Counseling and guidance", which includes as a mandatory subject all the elements that I care about health education and I am glad that Minister Rafila has already worked on updating some of the contents. I am convinced that we can do this reform together and I think that the expansion and consolidation of the school medicine network will also be of great help here, because all families are waiting, somehow, for specialists to come and share with their children elements of nutrition, avoiding addictions, why education through sports means and so on". The Minister of Education also welcomed the involvement of non-governmental organizations in these activities: "I join the Prime Minister in asking that, when you encounter difficulties in carrying out activities in schools, you notify us. As we know, all extracurricular activities must benefit from a parental agreement". She mentioned that in the Pre-University Education Law, the theme of health education, as well as that of education for healthy eating or equal opportunities, will be found in the education framework plans and school programs. In this context, she welcomed the work carried out by UNICEF in our country, namely the efforts supported in support of children in Romania aimed at contributing to increasing equity and inclusion in the education system: "You are a real partner for the Ministry of Education (... ) in ambitious projects, from school desegregation to projects aimed at the integration of refugee children, projects aimed at equity in general.These projects are part of a larger government project to create resources and policies for safe and inclusive schools and, I would add, considering the theme of the event, schools that provide a healthy environment. Within this pilot project, 10 schools in Romania will benefit from training and resources at European standards, with the aim of developing a safe and student-friendly. If the results are promising, the program will be expanded nationally. Also, scientifically based guidelines will be developed for the integration of socio-emotional development in teaching and classroom management, promoting the healthy use of technology and creating a positive climate. and certainly in schools".

All these measures aim to create an inclusive educational framework, which supports students not only academically, but also from an emotional point of view, added the minister.