Period talk puts Faridabad govt school on world map

Prioritising student health alongside grades has earned Government Girls Senior Secondary School (GGSSS), NIT-5, in Faridabad a place among the top-10 finalists in the world for the ‘Supporting Healthy Lives’ award as part of the prestigious World’s Best School Prizes-2025 event.

These awards are organised by UK-based T4 Education, and aim to recognise schools making a significant impact in the fields of education, health, and community engagement.

With a strength of 1,500 students, the school, like many others, witnessed frequent instances of girls skipping school during mensuration, and fainting during assemblies or physical education classes. Fatigues, migraines and anxiety were commonly reported to school teachers. The situation, however, changed for the better in 2024, when the school was chosen along with 11 others in the state as part of a pilot project to implement a special health-oriented curriculum.

“Only a healthy mind and body can support balanced academic performance. The heath of our students improved when the Tarang Health Alliance programme was implemented here. Health awareness, discussion and implementation were accorded as much importance as any academic subject. We talked to children about health issues, and counselled parents about these, sometimes even guiding them to the right health services. We have seen a change in most girls after this. They are fitter and performing better in both academic and extra-curricular activities,” said the school’s Health Educator, Khushbu Kumari.

Shweta Yadav (name changed), a Class X student, said she suffered from acute menstrual pain each month. She either had to skip classes for a week, or stay in the school’s medical room. After she was diagnosed with anaemia and early signs of PCOD during a counselling session, she sought medical help, and her health has since been improving.

“I, for all these years, presumed that such acute menstrual pain was normal. I would wither with pain and had to skip classes. My mother believed that having painkiller pills would lead to facial hair and other complications, so I was not allowed to take them. I used to beg my friends for these, and used to store them secretly. It was after a check-up in school that I found out about the causes of my pain. My mother was counselled about dietary practices, and myths pertaining to medication. It has been over six months since I began treatment, and I have not skipped a single class due to menstrual pain,” she said.

The school adopted an innovative health education curriculum, designed by renowned US-based scientist Dr Rahul Mehra, who also serves as India’s National Representative for the UNESCO Chair for Global Health and Education. Mehra is the founder of Tarang Health Alliance, an NGO that has developed a health curriculum with student workbooks. In 2024, the alliance began collaborating with the Haryana Government to introduce the curriculum in 12 government schools, setting the stage for wider adoption in Haryana.

GGSSS, NIT-5, implemented the curriculum by facilitating teacher training, classroom education with innovative resources, engagement with parents, and sustained policy advocacy to make health education an integral part of schooling. Former Principal Seema Bhrigu, who retired on April 30 this year, said, in addition to the curriculum, it was proactive approach of the staff that paid off. The school facilitates parent workshops on health, nutrition, and education, and teachers and community volunteers personally visit homes of students.

“The school changed its outlook. If a child looked tired or sleepy, or talked of any pain, we no longer dismissed it as excuse, but look deeply into the root cause of these issues. The biggest challenge was to make parents realise that good health is imperative for good marks. I am happy we achieved it,” Bhrigu said.

Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda calls global recognition a much-required morale booster for state-run schools. Alongside GGSSS, NIT-5, three other Indian schools have been shortlisted this year.

Haryana Tribune