On Tuesday, 14 April 2026, Zanzibar marked a major milestone in advancing students’ health and well-being as UNESCO, in partnership with WHO, the Ministry of Education & Vocational Training, and the Ministry of Health, officially launched the Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) and the Global School Health Policies and Practices Survey (G-SHPPS) 2025 report.
The surveys were conducted in 2024/25 as part of ongoing UNESCO efforts to drive healthier learning environments and improve student well-being by generating key data to inform policies, strengthen school health systems, and guide evidence-based interventions.
The launch of the Global School-Based Student Health Survey and the Global School Health Policies and Practices Survey Report, therefore, marks an important step in strengthening evidence generation in order to take action and informed decision, providing essential data on students’ health behaviors and the environments in which they learn.
This high-level event, which was officiated by the Minister of Education and Vocational Training, also featured the formal handover of 3,000 Supplementary Health and Well-Being Storybooks, a key step toward strengthening health education among primary school learners and reinforcing the integration of well-being into the education system.
These supplementary story books will serve as a valuable tool in strengthening foundational education on health and well-being for young people.
I’m really looking forward to reading these books. I can already tell from their presentation and the summary that they will be insightful and full of valuable lessons.
Aisha NasibStudent, Fujoni Secondary School, Zanzibar
Through the O3 programme, UNESCO continues to work alongside governments and partners to ensure schools remain safe, supportive spaces where every child can learn, grow, and thrive.
READ MORE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/new-chapter-students-health-begins-zanzibar
