Research shows schoolchildren failing through poor health

 

Thousands of young people are failing at school because of undiagnosed health problems, a research project shows.

A Linwood College research project - Lane (Literacy and Numeracy Empowerment) - showed that issues with eyesight, hearing and oral health were stopping young people from learning, and leading to behavioural problems in the classroom.

Project leader Alan Parris said the study showed primary healthcare was failing the nation's youth. About 450 year 9 and 10 pupils were surveyed in 2006 about their lives, had physical health tests and a mental health assessment. Their progress was tracked as they continued through school and new pupils were tested if referred by their teacher.

More than 70% in the original cohort needed a referral for at least one health problem. Of those, 85 needed eye treatment - including 53 who needed glasses - 147 needed dental work and 12 needed ear treatment.

The medical interventions resulted in a 12% improvement in pupils' achievements. Teachers said classroom behaviour also improved across the board.

Parris said young people were supposed to have their eyesight tested by a GP, but the system was not working to ensure children who needed glasses would get them.

The government was wasting money on numeracy and literacy programmes which would not help those pupils with a health barrier to learning.

Thousands of pupils across the country were most likely also failing academically because of undiagnosed health issues.

"We [Linwood] are not unique. If we have students like this, then every school has students like this," he said.

Parris had taken the research and recommendations to the Health Select Committee and Education Select Committee where ministers had been "enthusiastic" about it, but nothing had happened. Health Minister Tony Ryall said the Government was spending $5.6 million on nurses in more than 100 low-decile schools to improve young people's health.

"The Ministry of Health will review the programme late this year to make sure it is working well. If it needs to be improved on, that is what we will work on. If it's working well, then funding will continue," he said.

Secondary Principals' Association of New Zealand president Patrick Walsh said health barriers to learning had become more of an issue since the recession.

"When you get a recession like the last couple of years, it tends to accentuate the poverty divide that we are seeing in schools," he said.

The Government's decision to review nurse funding for decile-one and two schools was a concern. School nurses monitor children's eyesight, oral hygiene and hearing.

"If those things aren't picked up early, the educational damage is quite substantial and long-term," Walsh said.

Maori and Pasifika children were particularly vulnerable, but undiagnosed health issues were a problem across all socio-economic groups.

If untreated, they prevented children from reaching their full potential

"Unless we do something about it, it will be difficult for New Zealand to retain its status as a first-world economy," he said.

Partnership Health Canterbury chief executive Jane Cartwright said the Lane research showed an "undisputable definite improvement in health and learning outcomes".

"No-one could dispute that if you sorted out a lot of these problems for kids, their learning improved, and that's a good thing," she said.

"GP knowledge of youth health needs further education to help them focus on some of these things."

(your health is your future)

 

source : tvnz.co.nz