Health education assumptions and models and their implementation in the Polish educational system

Abstract

According to World Health Organization (WHO), health is defined as physical, psychological and social well-being, and also education (upbringing, training and learning itself). Those are terms which are mutually overlapping because the proper knowledge and health behaviour are essential for a person to be in good shape, as is the proper attitude towards the subject of development of the human organism. Health education is a process within which a man not only learns what health is or what pathogenic factors are, but also shapes a kind of habits which can reduce the risk of developing certain illnesses in the future. Health education can be run in a formal way (in schools, kindergartens or any other educational institution) and also as informal education, using i.e. hi-tech and media. In the educational system, the new core curriculum (2008) appears to reflect the role of health protection. The curriculum assumes an increase in the course content dealing with health and its comprehensive participation in the process of teaching. Issues connected with health areas appear in such subjects as: Biology, Chemistry, Physical Education and foreign languages. That new holistic approach to health education is aimed at forming aware and health-oriented people. In the new core curriculum, health education becomes “an important mission of the school”. In the following study, a model assumption of health education is presented at the particular stages of education.