Abstract
The purpose of this study was to identify the current problems of school health education policies and practices in Korea, and to establish the strategies to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of school health education program. The severity of adolescents's health problems including obesity, smoking, drug abuse, teen pregnancy, etc has been increased recently and coping strategies to deal with these problems became urgent. The role of school as a key setting for health education should be empathized. However, there were limitations for the effectiveness of school health education in Korea because of the lack of recognition about the importance, guiding principles of the school health education by the school health related law, life skill-focused curriculum, capacity of teachers for health education, and linkage between school and community. In order to improve the effectiveness of school health education, establishment of infrastructure, national and local health education standard, and operating principles for the school health education program should be provided. Life skill-focused health education curriculum should be developed for the effective health education. Teacher training and education also should be the essential component of school health education program. For the improvement of efficiency in school health education practices, cooperation with family and community support system would be necessary.
