Last update:
27-Mar-2018

OBJECTIVE To investigate the approved school programs of health education at the secondary education level, using the content analysis method, and to record the specialities of the teachers applying the programs.

METHOD The approved school health education programs carried out in the secondary education schools in the First Department of Secondary Education of Athens and in the regional units of Heraklion Crete and Kozani were investigated by content analysis for the school years 2012 to 2017, classified under the criteria of title and relevant ministerial degree. The regions were selected by virtue of their size: They are the largest within their educational districts, comprising 26.7% of the total student population and 37.3% of the total number of secondary education teachers. The study population may therefore be considered representative for the country. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 24.0.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The health education programs at the secondary education level focus on matters of health, mental health and socioemotional development. Their subject range displays a satisfactory diversity, but their number has been gradually decreasing. A limited number of the teachers carrying out the health education programs have the requisite qualifications (i.e., teachers of biology, chemistry, physical education and home economics, doctors, nurses, etc.). The majority of the teachers in the health education programs have specialties not directly related to health education.

Key words: Health education, Programs, Secondary education.