Establishing networks for health promoting schools in South Africa

South African schools were segregated by ears of discriminatory practices. Apartheid policies adversely affected the health and social status of child ren in South Africa. The conceptual framework suggested by the health promo ting schools movement was adopted in South Africa to address school health comprehensively. This approach provides a useful framework because it focus es not on the curriculum but on the school environment, community involveme nt, policy development, and appropriate health and social services. Current ly, several initiatives in South Africa focus on developing networks of hea lth promoting schools. Initiatives seen as a mechanism to address the histo rical inequities among children in South Africa are described.