Agreement signed on health-promoting schools initiative

Muscat: - The Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, and Al Jisr Foundation for Charitable Works today signed a cooperation agreement to support the "Health-Promoting Schools" initiative. The initiative aims to provide a safe and health-enhancing educational environment that enables students to improve their academic performance, acquire essential life skills, and integrate into society.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Abdullah bin Khamis Ambusaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for Education; Sulaiman bin Nasser Al Hiji, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Administrative and Financial Affairs; and Dina Al Khalili, Director General of Al Jisr Foundation for Charitable Works.

Dr. Abdullah bin Khamis Ambusaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for Education, stated that this five-year initiative holds significant importance in enhancing students' health environment, serving as a key tool that positively impacts their academic achievement.

He added that the total number of schools participating in the initiative since its launch has reached 566 across various educational directorates in the governorates. These schools implement the initiative’s programs in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Al Jisr Foundation for Charitable Works.

For his part, Sulaiman bin Nasser Al Hiji, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Administrative and Financial Affairs, emphasized that this initiative stems from a strategic partnership to serve the public good, particularly by promoting health in school environments. This will be achieved through improving students' learning conditions, enhancing their academic performance, preventing diseases, reducing absenteeism, supporting their mental well-being, and instilling lasting healthy habits—enabling them to focus, engage, and learn more effectively.

Dina Al Khalili, Director General of Al Jisr Foundation for Charitable Works, stated that this strategic partnership reflects the convergence of health and education efforts, realizing a shared vision to provide a healthy school environment that enhances students' academic success and develops their essential life skills. She reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to creating a sustainable impact for students and society.

Al Jisr Foundation will fund sustainable projects for three schools that have achieved the highest gold-level rating in the "Health-Promoting Schools" initiative over five years. Additionally, the foundation will oversee the initiative’s implementation and collaborate with specialized teams from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health to develop a visual identity and an operational guide for the initiative. Efforts are also underway to prepare an electronic platform, which will be launched at a later stage.