Optimizing Education Outcomes: High-Return Investments in School Health for Increased Participation and Learning

Authors: Donald Bundy, Nilanthi de Silva, Susan Horton, Dean Jamison, George Patton

Excerpt from Preface by Julia Gillard

"Optimizing Education Outcomes draws on the latest evidence and analysis available in volume 8, Child and Adolescent Health and Development of Disease Control Priorities, third edition (DCP3). It makes clear the synergies between education and health investments and outcomes. It also confirms that our efforts and resources must focus on both health and education to achieve further gains in human development and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. Long-term goals in health are unattainable without an educated population, and children cannot learn if they suffer from the effects of poor health and nutrition. 

DCP3 Volume 8 proposes a package of school health investments that can effectively address the most pressing health problems and health knowledge needs of school-age children in low- and lower-middle-income countries. It contains evidence that policy makers, practitioners, and planners can use to make the case for high-return, affordable school health interventions to improve not only school-age children's health and development, but also their participation and learning." 

Front Matter:

Download individual pieces of the front matter:

• Foreword by Gordon Brown
• Full preface by Julia Gillard
• Prologue by Louise Banham, Lesley Drake, and Bradford Strickland

Other Resources: 

• Postcards for Distribution - Child and Adolescent Health and Development: Optimizing Education Outcomes