Thailand Physical Activity Knowledge Development Centre (TPAK), IPSR, Mahidol University, in collaboration with the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, organized a model school workshop “WoSPA Primary School Class 1” to promote holistic physical activity in schools (WoSPA) between 31 May – 2 June 2024 at the Miracle Grand Convention Hotel, Bangkok, MAGIC 2 Room. The event was led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Piyawat Katewongsa, Director of the Thailand Physical Activity Knowledge Development Centre (TPAK), along with the research team. They carried out activities under the project to develop a cooperation mechanism to promote physical activity for Thai children and youth, following the concept of promoting physical activity in schools holistically (Whole-of-School Approach to Physical Activity: WoSPA).
The objective of this training was to enable model schools to appropriately design and plan the promotion of holistic physical activity. This includes policy making, creating opportunities for physical activity at various times, organizing space to promote activities, and promoting quality physical education and activities for groups with special needs. The aim is for the model school to operate effectively using the main ideas based on recommendations for promoting physical activity in schools holistically (Whole-of-School Approach to Physical Activity) from the World Health Organization. These recommendations have been included in the toolkit for promoting physical activity in schools (Promoting Physical Activity through Schools: A Toolkit), which will help address the problem of high sedentary behavior and lack of physical activity, and reduce the prevalence and incidence of obesity in children.
The event was honored by a panel of experts from various fields involved in the holistic implementation of physical activity promotion in schools, from the policy sector and school sector networks. They participated in a discussion to identify possible operational directions for the schools and put the ideas into practice. The concepts necessary for promoting physical activity were applied and developed to be appropriate for the Thai context in eight important dimensions for school operations. The workshop also marked the movement of work with model schools at the primary level, with a total of 12 first-generation schools participating. The 12 primary WoSPA model schools, first generation, include Wat Soi Thong School in Bangkok, Nikhom Bang Rakam 4 School (Bang Rakam Chanupatham) in Phitsanulok Province, Wat Pak Phing Tawan Tok School in Phitsanulok Province, Anuban Chumtabong School in Nakhon Sawan Province, Wat Rit School (Kham Muen Pathummanusorn) in Sukhothai Province, Piyamit Witthaya School in Phayao Province, Wat Tan Sian School (Simarat) in Saraburi Province, Ban Khao Khong School in Surin Province, Ban Nong Khu Witthayakhom School in Chaiyaphum Province, Ban Nong Pradu School in Kanchanaburi Province, Sriphon Thong Wittaya School in Nakhon Phanom Province, and Wat Mai Riang School in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. These 12 schools are national representatives from every region of Thailand, piloting operations to support the plan to promote physical activity for children and youth (2023-2030), with a total of 60 school representatives participating in this workshop.
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For those interested, photos from the activity can be viewed on the following Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=IPSRMAHIDOLUNIVERSITY&set=a.928885919035485
