Management of School Health Programmes in Public Secondary Schools in Oyo State: A Professional Assessment

Effective management of school health programmes is a professional responsibility that requires systematic planning, adequate resourcing, and competent administration at the school and district levels. This study conducts a professional assessment of school health programme management in public secondary schools in Oyo State, South West Nigeria. A mixed-methods design was employed, combining structured questionnaires administered to 120 school health coordinators and principals across 30 schools with in-depth interviews of six state education officials responsible for school health policy implementation. Management dimensions assessed include health services administration, health instruction coordination, healthful school environment maintenance, staff health and wellness, and community health relations. Findings reveal that formal school health programme management structures are absent in 73 percent of sampled schools, with responsibilities fragmented across multiple staff without designated authority. Health instruction is delivered inconsistently due to teacher shortages and competing curriculum demands. Budget allocation specifically for school health activities is non-existent in most schools, with activities funded on an ad hoc basis. Schools with trained school health coordinators demonstrate significantly higher programme implementation scores across all dimensions. Recommendations include the formal designation and training of school health coordinators in all public secondary schools, development of a statewide school health management framework, and annual budget line allocation for school health activities. Professional development pathways for school health management are also discussed. Keywords: school health programme, management, secondary schools, Oyo State, health coordination