Muscat: A partnership agreement was signed at the Al Jisr Charitable Foundation’s headquarters in Muscat between the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, and Al Jisr Charitable Foundation to support the health-promoting schools initiative.
The objective of this agreement is to create a secure and health-oriented educational environment for schools, allowing students to improve their academic performance, develop essential life skills, and engage more fully in society.
The signatories from the Ministry of Education were Dr. Abdullah bin Khamis Ambosaidi, Undersecretary for Education; from the Ministry of Health was Sulaiman bin Nasser Al-Hajji, Undersecretary for Administrative and Financial Affairs; and representing the Al Jisr Charitable Foundation was Dina Al Khalili, Director-General of the Foundation.
Dr. Abdullah bin Khamis Ambosaidi emphasized the significance of this agreement in supporting the health-promoting schools initiative, stating: “This initiative, which is set to be executed over the next five years, is crucial for fostering a healthy atmosphere for students, serving as an essential tool that positively influences their academic outcomes.
“Since the initiative's inception, a total of 566 schools across different educational directorates in the governorates have participated, with various programs being executed in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Al Jisr Charitable Foundation.”
Sulaiman bin Nasser Al Hajji, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Administrative and Financial Affairs, remarked: “This initiative arises from a strategic collaboration aimed at benefiting society as a whole and enhancing health within the school setting, particularly by improving the learning experience for students, boosting their academic success, safeguarding them from illnesses, minimizing their school absences, promoting their mental well-being, and fostering lasting healthy habits among them, which will enable them to focus better, engage, and learn effectively.”
Regarding the collaborative effort between Al Jisr Charitable Foundation and the government sector, Dina Al Khalili, the Foundation’s Director-General, stated: “This strategic partnership represents the merging of healthcare and educational initiatives, fulfilling our common vision of creating a healthy school atmosphere that improves academic performance and nurtures essential life skills in students.
“We are grateful for the trust and cooperation extended by the Ministries of Education and Health in this initiative, and we reaffirm our dedication to ensuring a lasting impact for both students and society.”
It is noteworthy that the Al Jisr Foundation is financing sustainable initiatives for three schools that have attained the highest gold rating in the health-promoting school initiative over a five-year timeframe.
Additionally, it offers general supervision of the initiative's execution and works alongside a specialized team from both ministries to establish a visual identity and guidelines for the initiative.
The Foundation is also in the process of developing an electronic platform for the initiative, which is set to be launched in the future.
