MANILA, Philippines, Nov 13, (Agencies): To tackle the diverse challenges confronting Filipino learners, the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Health (DOH) have pledged their dedication to prioritizing the physical health and mental well-being of students.

During a meeting on Nov 13, Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Z. Duterte and DOH Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa underscored their joint commitment to collaboratively address health issues directly impacting school-aged children.

Expressing gratitude for the opportunity to engage with the DOH, Duterte highlighted the importance of discussing health-related concerns affecting students, particularly issues such as HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancies, and matters related to mental wellness, including the underlying reasons behind suicides. "We realized that not all the problems in schools are a result of the quality of education," Duterte remarked. "Many of these are due to physical and mental health, which is one of the most crucial aspects that we should pay attention to in order to ensure the overall development of the minds, bodies, and emotions of our students."

The meeting recognized that the challenges faced by learners extend beyond educational quality alone. Both agencies, therefore, united to give precedence to the physical health and mental well-being of students. Discussions encompassed critical concerns such as the clustering of Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) in schools nationwide, reported HIV/AIDS incidences among school-aged children, teenage pregnancies, and the mental wellness of students.

DepEd, in an official statement, emphasized that this collaboration signifies a groundbreaking step towards a holistic approach to education. "By acknowledging that the well-being of learners extends beyond traditional educational boundaries, the DepEd and the DOH have taken a groundbreaking step towards creating a holistic approach to education," stated DepEd.

Both agencies firmly believe that a healthy body and mind are fundamental prerequisites for effective learning and long-term academic success. The collaboration aims to address key areas, including the clustering of Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI), HIV/AIDS incidence, teenage pregnancies, and mental wellness.

DepEd further outlined that the partnership seeks to identify the root causes of ILI outbreaks in schools and implement preventive measures to safeguard the health of students and staff. This collaborative effort represents a significant stride toward ensuring the comprehensive well-being of Filipino learners.